The Primate Skull Trade

Michel Lulo
Primate Conservation
February 13, 2025


Images by Vincent Nijman

Bali is usually recognized for its beautiful landscapes and culture. However, it hides a troubling secret, an illegal trade in primate skulls that flourishes in tourist markets. A recent study published in Primate Conservation reveals that between 2013 and 2024, researchers documented over 750 primate skulls for sale, including those of protected species like orangutans, gibbons, and macaques, meaning that a good amount of the primates involved in the trade were killed. Indonesia has strict wildlife protection laws and international bans under CITES, but regardless, these skulls are openly sold, with vendors even offering advice on smuggling them out of the country.

This issue echoes broader themes in primate conservation, particularly the tension between cultural traditions, economic incentives, and species protection. In past readings, we read about how habitat destruction and poaching, which is often driven by bushmeat markets, have pushed many primate species toward extinction. As seen before, this issue may exist because like illegal hunters, the sellers of the skulls rely on this trade for income, and the trade might be profitable enough that the risk is worth taking for them, especially since they are targeting unknowing tourists. Since this is further threatening an already vulnerable species, security measures might need to be increased against endangered primates. Even conservationists warn that without stricter law enforcement and greater awareness among tourists, this trade will continue to undermine primate populations.


Image by Vincent Nijman and J. Chavez

However, like the bushmeat crisis in Africa, this market thrives on global demand, making it a complicated issue to solve long-term, rather than a problem of legality and illegality. However, past efforts to curb illegal wildlife trafficking have shown that reducing demand is just as crucial as enforcing supply-side regulations. As long as outsiders are willing to offer money, locals will be ready to sell. Tourists, whether in Bali or elsewhere, must recognize their role in this system and should be properly educated on the issue before being taken advantage of by locals. Hopefully soon, tourists in Bali will be educated enough to take a stand, choosing conservation over exploitation.


References

Raman, S. (2025, February 12). Sun, sand and skulls: Bali tourism trade peddles threatened primate skulls. Mongabay. https://news.mongabay.com/2025/02/sun-sand-and-skulls-bali-tourism-trade-peddles-threatened-primate-skulls/

Chavez, J., & Nijman, V. (2024). The open sale of primate skulls on Bali reveal complex Indonesia-wide wildlife trade networks. Primate Conservation, 38. Retrieved from http://www.primate-sg.org/storage/pdf/PC38_Chavez_Nijman_Bali_commerce_in_Primate_skulls.pdf

Chavez, J., Payuse, I. N., Kuntayuni, Campera, M., & Nijman, V. (2023). Tourism, international wildlife trade and the (in)effectiveness of CITES. Environmental Conservation, 51(1), 64-70. doi:10.1017/s0376892923000292

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