Chained up baby monkeys 'sold illegally in Bali market'

Footage has been posted online showing baby monkeys allegedly on sale illegally in a marketplace in Bali.

According to Scorpion, the wildlife trade monitoring group that filmed the footage, the young long-tailed macaques were being held without access to drinking water.

The clip, shot at Satria Wildlife Market, shows a group of baby monkeys perching on a wire cage, tethered by chains clipped onto metal collars around their necks.

Scorpion aims to protect species from becoming endangered and raise awareness of animal welfare and has been looking at wildlife trade markets since it was formed in 2015.

"We conduct investigations into both the ‘legal’ and illegal wildlife trade that currently plagues our wonderful country," their website says.

The evidence they gather from their investigations is passed over to the Bali Natural Conservation Center (BKSDA).

According to Scorpion, the monkeys in the clip had been caught in a forest and brought to the market without permits from BKSDA, which makes selling the animals on illegal.

A petition calling for the release of all wildlife from Satria Market has reached nearly six thousand signatures in light of the video.

Indonesia is considered a trade hotspot for wildlife and endangered species.

Previous investigations in the country have uncovered cases in which orangutans, slow lorises and bears have been placed up for sale.