The debate on ban or severely restrict primate research. Learnings and strategies

Abstract

Currently, research on great apes has been phased out in practically all the world. In this context, the question arises as to whether it is time to ban or restrict research on all non-human primates. One way to address this question is to assess whether the reasons that were successfully put forward in favor of restricting research on great apes can be extended to other non-human primates. Based on a recent review of the debate on the restriction of research with great apes (Aguilera, Perez Gomez, y DeGrazia, 2021), the present article carries out this task, analyzing domains of reasons related to moral status, science, animal welfare, attitudes of experts and the public, conservation and retirement of primates, financial costs, and the attribution of respect and rights to non-human primates. This way, the aim is to shed light on the debate around the restriction of research with all types of non-human primates, offering strategic, persuasive, and philosophical tools for those who would like to move forward in this direction.