Gibbons are tree-dwelling lesser apes, and one of the most threatened primate groups in the world. All gibbon species are listed under Appendix I of the CITES, the global wildlife trade convention, meaning their commercial trade is prohibited internationally. However, legal loopholes and weak enforcement mean the trade manages to thrive. Gibbons are a recent addition to the booming exotic pet trade in India, only beginning to arrive in 2023. In particular, northeastern India is emerging as a hotspot for illegal wildlife trafficking because some of its states share a land border with Bangladesh, noted by conservationists as a source for gibbons being trafficked into India and Myanmar, and a hub for regional wildlife trafficking. The region’s thick jungles and tough terrain also make it easy for traffickers to bring animals across borders without getting caught. Once the animals enter India, they’re transported to other parts of the country, where they end up as pets or in private zoos. According to the Gibbon Conservation Society in Malaysia, TikTok is fuelling demand for exotic animals by spreading posts of celebrities posing with such animals. Social media platforms also serve as a marketplace for trafficked animals, with poor enforcement of laws prohibiting such trade.