A report by Human Rights International, an animal rights group, has revealed that American fishermen have killed a large number of monkeys each year as part of activities and tournaments in the wild.
More than 800 monkeys are killed every year, and more than 11,000 "souvenirs" of animals caught between the world's countries between 2007 and 2016 have been exchanged, with about 80 per cent of those imported to the United States.
According to figures from the group, baboons were ranked first in the list of the most targeted animals, with more than 7,000 deaths during that time period.
According to the Independent newspaper, South Africa tops the list of countries with sniper operations, followed by Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique, respectively.
Animal hunting, organized by some countries as an "entertaining" activity, legitimized by international law and which encourages hunters to target monkeys alone, is less costly to hunt than black or rhinoceros.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), animals that can be hunted for recreation, are "not threatened with extinction", according to data and figures in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
