An Online Post, a Laboratory Macaque and an Unanswered Question
A journalist tracing China’s macaque research expansion interviewed a former caretaker about M1073 (nicknamed Monkai) and a secondhand allegation absent from the original account.
A post describing an experimental macaque’s unusual behavior and death surfaced during an investigation into China’s costly laboratory animal market and growing brain-computer-interface research. Its author, a former caretaker, agreed to an interview but refused to identify the laboratory.
The broader research story was well documented. According to Yicai, procurement prices for cynomolgus macaques rose from around RMB 92,000 in May 2025 to RMB 178,000 in June 2026, while some July market quotations neared RMB 200,000. Pharmaceutical research remains the principal source of demand.
Neural-interface research offers another use for macaques. In May 2026, the Nanjing Institute of Artificial Intelligence reported that a system involving Zhongke Yixiang and partners decoded a macaque’s grasping intention in about 0.2 seconds, enabling an AI-assisted robotic hand to complete a task in under three seconds.
In September 2025, Jiangsu Lingkang Biotechnology announced surgical-navigation cooperation with Zhongke Yixiang. Junction News subsequently reported, on September 11, 2026, preliminary discussions with a Suzhou macaque breeder willing to provide animals for research cooperation.
These reports establish context, not a link to the unnamed facility.
The caretaker’s account concerned M1073, a macaque that reportedly underwent repeated neural-interface procedures. Short sequences of Mandarin words and later English words allegedly appeared on a connected computer display. The caretaker could not identify their source. The animal became increasingly agitated, and access to some sessions was restricted.
After an ordinary feeding visit, the caretaker learned on the next shift that M1073 had been euthanized. The former employee resigned several days later and published the account weeks afterward.
The journalist contacted the author before the post disappeared and later interviewed the caretaker. During that conversation, the source added an allegation not included online: a researcher had allegedly mentioned an attempted transfer of information to an external server after the macaque’s death.
The caretaker said the initial post covered firsthand observations; the server account was secondhand. No technical logs were examined, and no successful transfer was established.
Because the caretaker withheld the laboratory’s identity, its records and response could not be obtained. The reported computer output, server activity and euthanasia decision have not been shown to be causally related.
PUBLISHED RESEARCH AND INDUSTRY REPORTING
- Yicai — Laboratory macaque prices and supply constraints https://m.yicai.com/news/103270605.html
- China Securities Journal — Macaque shortages and pharmaceutical demand https://finance.sina.com.cn/jjxw/2026-07-15/doc-inihwvwy4753653.shtml
- Nanjing Institute of Artificial Intelligence — AI robotic-hand demonstration https://www.airia.cn/index.php/news/102.html
- Nanjing Municipal Government — Brain-interface demonstration https://qilinpark.nanjing.gov.cn/ztlm/kjc/202605/t20260519_5842627.html
- Jiangsu Lingkang Biotechnology — Research cooperation https://www.lkbio.com.cn/news/250
- Jiangsu Lingkang Biotechnology — Research platform https://www.lkbio.com.cn/news/248
- Junction News / Xinhua Daily — Preliminary breeder discussions https://www.xhby.net/content/s6aa3f08ae4b0c7c3ee73ccb6.html