WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) issued a decision on October 9, 2025, to retain the "Endangered" status determination for long-tailed macaque ("LTM") monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).
The latest issuance by the IUCN follows a 2023 petition filed by the National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR) challenging the IUCN status determination. NABR's petition demonstrates that reviews by Hansen et. al., which the IUCN has used as the basis for its status determinations, misrepresent existing scientific data.1 More information regarding the NABR petition is available online at www.nabr.org.
A separate petition filed with the IUCN by Dr. Hank Jenkins asserts that the Hansen et al. authors possess conflicts of interest that require further investigation by the IUCN. It is unclear if such conflicts exist, or if the authors of the IUCN review possess conflicts requiring disclosure or recusal.
On October 7, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ("the Service") rejected a petition filed by advocacy groups to list "LTM" monkeys under the Endangered Species Act ("ESA"). The petition contains the same information submitted to the IUCN which is the basis for the IUCN's current assessment. In rejecting the petition, the Service stated "the petition did not present credible information to support impacts to populations or the species as a whole." The full findings from the Service on the petition to list long-tailed macaques under the U.S. Endangered Species Act is published in the Federal Register and is located here: "LTM_Petition.pdf." No government in the world considers "LTM" monkeys to be endangered. Peer-reviewed scientific publications demonstrate the latest IUCN determination, and information used in the determination, are flawed and unsupported.2
"The NABR scientific review team is disappointed that the IUCN has failed to objectively consider scientific information that has been presented," stated Dr. Ray Hilborn, a world-renowned scientist and member of NABR's scientific review team.
"The lack of data on trends in abundance, and misrepresentation of data that do exist, raise serious questions about the scientific process employed by the IUCN to reach this determination," added Dr. Hilborn.
"LTM" monkeys are used extensively throughout the world in biomedical research given their physiological and genetic similarities with human beings. Five of the 20 most used prescription drugs were developed with the help of long-tailed macaques. Research with "LTM" monkeys has been crucial for advances in regenerative medicine, immunology, cancer, vaccine development, and pharmacology, as well as development of the COVID-19 vaccine.3 The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently published a review confirming the importance of "LTM" monkeys in conducting biomedical research.
"NABR is disappointed that in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence, the IUCN has bowed to pressure from animal activists to suggest the 'LTM' monkey as at risk," said Matthew R. Bailey, president of NABR. "Available scientific information clearly shows this species is not at risk and in fact is considered to be invasive in several countries. It is beyond comprehension that the IUCN claims the species is at risk while simultaneously claiming it is one of the world's most invasive species. NABR will continue to educate policy makers and the public on these issues to protect public health and the integrity of the scientific process."
According to a publication entitled "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species," "LTM" monkeys are recognized by the IUCN to be an "invasive" species.4
The conservation status of "LTM" monkeys and PETA's involvement in government programs was recently the subject of a U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee hearing in September 2024. Witnesses at this hearing testified that PETA and other animal advocacy groups have improperly attempted to influence government investigations of private parties and foreign governments for political reasons.
About the National Association for Biomedical Research
Founded in 1979, NABR is the only 501(c)(6) non-profit association dedicated to sound public policy for the humane use of animals in biomedical research, education, and testing. Members include more than 340 universities, medical and veterinary schools, teaching hospitals, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, patient groups, and academic and professional societies who rely on humane and responsible animal research to advance global human and animal health. Learn more about us at www.nabr.org.
1 See Hilborn, R., & Smith, D. R. (2023). Is the long‐tailed macaque at risk of extinction? American Journal of Primatology, e23590. (Available at https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.23590).
2 See Hilborn, R., & M. Chaloupka (2025). Estimating the abundance of widely distributed primates. American Journal of Primatology (accepted for publication).
3 See Albrecht, L., E. Bishop, B. Jay, B. Lafloux, M. Minoves, C. Passaes (2021). COVID-19 Research: Lessons from Non-Human Primate Models (2021) doi: 10.3390/vaccines9080886 (available at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8402317/.
4 See IUCN, 100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species (available at www.iucngisd.org).
Contact: Eva Maciejewski
emaciejewski@nabr.org
(202) 967-8305
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
NABR Comment on IUCN Determination
The Initiative Aims to Address the Pain Points of Family Filmmaking
BEIJING, Dec. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 6th, the 3rd FamilyLens International Film Festival opened in Beijing. SmallRig, a global specialized provider of imaging solutions, collaborating with FamilyLens, is empowering family filmmaking through various initiatives, including the Family Filmmaking Co-Creation Initiative, a dedicated family filmmaking kit, and a social impact screening program.
Deepening the "Co-Creation Initiatives"
The Co-Creation Initiatives are a series of global creative initiatives open to filmmakers and image creators worldwide. Through deep collaboration across multiple dimensions — including product co-creation, discovery and promotion, and content co-creation — SmallRig aims to expand the boundaries of mobile filmmaking and bring the spirit of Free Your Dream to life with creators everywhere.
Following the launch of the Mobile Filmmaking Co-Creation Initiative at the 14th International Smartphone Film Festival, SmallRig announced the launch of the Family Filmmaking Co-Creation Initiative on December 6th at the 3rd FamilyLens International Film Festival. The initiative invites global creators and every family to participate, focusing on three core directions: product co-creation, work promotion, and content co-creation, to explore the possibilities of family filmmaking for everyone.
Mr. Zhou Yang, Founder and CEO of SmallRig, shared the inspiration for the initiative: "The initiative is rooted in the immense universality and profound emotional depth inherent in family narratives, which serve as a common emotional bond connecting global audiences. We firmly believe that in this era, where everyone can be a content creator, every family can and should film their own story. The instinct to create is deeply embedded in the human spirit, and every home is the origin of countless narratives."
Gu Xue, Founder and Director of the FamilyLens International Film Festival, stated: "We hope that people and practitioners around the world who care about family movies can find suitable solutions and gain insights from the Co-Creation Initiatives. We look forward to more and more people exploring the field of 'Home' together through this initiative."
To address the pain points of family filmmaking, SmallRig officially released the SmallRig Family Filmmaking Kit at the opening ceremony. The kit includes a high-quality microphone, fill light, and a portable tripod, specifically designed to achieve "professional function democratization" and "complex feature simplification." During the FamilyLens Workshop, attendees experienced the convenience of the equipment firsthand. Many expressed that the kit truly solves many problems, enabling ordinary families to complete necessary filming without specialized photography knowledge.
Social Impact Screening Program
The 3rd FamilyLens International Film Festival is open to the public from December 6th to 14th. The festival opened with the screening of well-received documentary: K-Family Affairs. In addition to the competition section, the festival features several distinctive sections, including the Reframing Home Movies— An Italian Retrospective, Youth Film Program, Filmmaker in Focus, and the Social Impact Program. Four major awards, such as the Real-Life Portrait Award and the Artistic Exploration Award, will also be presented.
As a key component of the Co-Creation Initiatives, the SmallRig Image Development Fund partnered with the FamilyLens International Film Festival to curate the "Social Impact Screening Program." This unit focuses on elevating awareness of critical issues within the family unit, advocating for a new reflection: "Starting with Seeing, Concluding with Understanding."
Arum Nam, Director of K-Family Affairs, stated:
"Starting with the stories of your family, your friends, and yourself, I believe this personal narrative can connect directly to the bigger society."
SmallRig believes that truly meaningful social impact storytelling stems from awareness in proximity—achieved by using the lens to penetrate the daily surface and enabling a deep, empathetic "Seeing with Empathy."
The four featured works in this unit are:
- People of the Ascent
- Granny's Lost and Found
- Ruixi at Fourteen
- No Country For My Maternal Grandma
These films highlight four family issues that require "seeing": the yearning of left-behind children, the mental isolation of Alzheimer's patients, the elderly searching for subjectivity in their drifting lives, and the emotional volatility and struggle of Bipolar Disorder.
Strategic Outlook and Future Expansion
SmallRig will continue to support the Family Filmmaking Co-Creation Initiative's deep development through promotional campaigns and practical workshops focused on family movie scenarios.
The overall goal of SmallRig's Global Co-creation Initiative is to continuously explore and meet the growing, diverse needs of global creators across different vertical domains. SmallRig is committed to persistently expanding the co-creation model into more imaging sectors, collaborating with industry partners to push the boundaries of imaging and grant global creators broader creative freedom.
About SmallRig
Founded in 2013, SmallRig is an innovation-driven global company that designs and manufactures comprehensive support solutions and accessories for all content creation needs. Trusted by over four million creators globally, SmallRig pioneered the User Co-creation Design (UCD) philosophy and the DreamRig Program.
For more information, visit: www.smallrig.com.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
SmallRig and FamilyLens Launch Global Family Filmmaking Initiative at 3rd FamilyLens International Film Festival
SmallRig and FamilyLens Launch Global Family Filmmaking Initiative at 3rd FamilyLens International Film Festival
SmallRig and FamilyLens Launch Global Family Filmmaking Initiative at 3rd FamilyLens International Film Festival
