As well as the animal welfare worries, and the impact on wild populations, there are also concerns about the potential to spread disease. HIV is believed to have originated in apes before being transmitted to humans.
Doug Cress believes that the new method of collecting and monitoring the data will help the fight against the live trafficking of these animals.
"Most databases have up to three years for countries to file information, but by then the trail is cold.
"We are talking about live time with this new database, when we see trends we will inform Interpol and Cites immediately."