Caught on cam: Global investigation uncovers 'sadistic monkey torture' of baby macaques

***Content warning: This story contains graphic details, which may be considered disturbing.***

WASHINGTON (TND) — An investigation by the BBChas exposed what the media outlet is calling a "global network of sadistic monkey torture" after violent videos of people abusing and killing baby monkeys emerged on social media.

In a recent report that followed a year-long probe, the BBC World Service said it learned hundreds of people in the United States, as well as the United Kingdom and other parts of the world, paid Indonesians "to torture and kill baby long-tailed macaques" on camera.

The torture ring reportedly started on YouTube and then continued in private groups on Telegram, which is an encrypted messaging app.

"BBC journalists went undercover in one of the main Telegram torture groups, where hundreds of people gathered to come up with extreme torture ideas and commission people in Indonesia and other Asian countries to carry them out," according to the report, which was published on Monday. "The sadists' goal was to create bespoke films in which baby long-tailed macaque monkeys were abused, tortured and sometimes then killed on film."

Sarah Kite is a co-founder of Action for Primates, a U.K.-based project that advocates globally on behalf of non-human primates. She spoke to BBC Breakfast about her horror of the videos.

"It's just astounding to think that there are people here in the U.K., as well as in the U.S., who are prepared to pay for baby monkeys to be tortured and killed on camera -- and not just paid, but also to actually put in requests and suggestions and to say exactly what type of torture they want those monkeys to be subjected to," Kite said during the interview. "It's astounding and I think anybody watching this footage just couldn't believe that this is actually an activity that's taking place and that these videos are freely available on social media platforms."

In a Facebook post, Action for Primates praised the BBC and said, "social media platforms must start effectively monitoring and enforcing their own guidelines, and that this harmful and distressing content must be brought within the scope of the UK Online Safety Bill."

The BBC reported YouTube said "abuse had 'no place' on the platform" and has been "working hard to quickly remove violative content," while the Telegram told the BBC it was "committed to protecting user privacy and human rights such as freedom of speech", also noting its moderators "cannot proactively patrol private groups."

The monkeys are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and require special permits in order to be imported into the U.S.

Action for Primates also said it has been calling for better conservation protection of the long-tailed macaque, including "raising concerns about the conservation status of the species and the impacts of increasing international trade on that status. These concerns, when considered alongside the IUCN Red List reclassification to Endangered, necessitate a re-evaluation of the protection afforded to this species under CITES."

During a previous interview with The National Desk, PETA said long-tailed macaques -- also known as crab-eating macaques -- used to be the most commonly seen monkey in Southeast Asia, but there has been a 40% decline within the last three generations of the species. PETA also said scientists are anticipating an additional 50% decline in the next three generations if significant actions aren’t taken.

Meanwhile, the Oregon U.S. Attorney's Office on Thursday announced 48-year-old David Christopher Noble was indicted for his role in the mutilation and mutilation of monkeys. A news release noted he was "charged with conspiring to engage in animal crushing and creating and distributing animal crush videos, creating animal crush videos," as well as illegally possessing a gun as a dishonorably discharged person. He previously served as a member of the United States Air Force Officer, according to the release.