A USDA inspection report states that BC US, a veterinary services company, allowed two long-tailed macaques to die in their Immokalee facility in November 2025. The primates were left in a room that reached a temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit, where they died from the extreme temperatures.

Anupah Makoond, head of communications for the company, responded to the report:

“We acknowledge and recognize that there was an operational failure on our end. We deplore it, because animal welfare is really important for us, and we acted quickly to take the necessary corrective measures to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” she said.

In January, another incident occurred in which another long-tailed macaque was mistakenly placed in a biowaste container. Makoond again:

“All the authorities were informed, all the procedures were respected in reporting to the various agencies, and the necessary corrective measures have been put in place,” said Makoond.

Macaques are used for research because they are genetically and physiologically similar to humans.

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