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Time to ban monkeys from UK pet trade05/03/2013 16:01:52
A cage that a monkey was kept in as a pet! March 2013. Wild Futures, the leading primate charity that runs The Monkey Sanctuary in Cornwall, the only GFAS-accredited primate sanctuary in Europe, was very grateful last week when Michaela Strachan took some time out during her present tour (The Really Wild Adventures) to find out about the charity's current campaign to end the primate pet trade. 5000 primates privately owned in the UK! Non-compliance  One of the monkeys at the sanctuary has to use his leg to support his left arm. Brooke Aldrich, Campaigns Manager of Wild Futures states: "We have been gathering evidence for quite some time now. It is clear that current UK legislation is failing these socially complex and highly intelligent animals. The situation is tragic, especially in light of the UK's reputation as a nation of animal lovers. We are sure that the best and only option is to ban the primate pet trade in the UK." Upon learning about the situation, Michaela stated: "I am shocked at how big the monkey pet trade is in the UK. 5,000 monkeys kept as pets! I had no idea there were that many. Monkeys are not domesticated like dogs and cats; they simply don't make good pets. People in this country should know better. When I was a child I adored monkeys and the idea of having one as a pet was a constant fantasy. But it's as ridiculous as having a pet lion or a pet elephant. As an adult it's just wrong to indulge that childhood fantasy, however much we think we love that animal. As the saying goes, if you love something set it free, well if you love monkeys let them stay free, where they belong, in the wild."' The Monkey Sanctuary opened its doors to visitors on Saturday 2nd March for 2013.
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Read the comments about this article and leave your own comment
i live in egypt, and iam planning on getting a capuchin monkey, why not, he will be left alone in a small cage in the zoo,no vets, bad food, and people throwing food to him, or even hard him, thats if he didnt go to some one that just wanna be cool and have a monkey, so plzz tell me a good season WHY NOT
Posted by: amr essam farouk | 27 Apr 2013 19:26:25
To suggest a ban is ridiculous - it blatantly states in the article that non-compliance with the DWAA is around 90 %. This does not mean there are hundreds of DWA monkeys in private hands, the DWAA covers many animals including venomous snakes, caimans crocs, serval cats and so on. What this does mean is that our government is incapable of enforcing a law which is already in place to regulate the keeping of 'exotic pets'.
The issue of 'banning' primates as pets is actually raised quite regularly by various MP's, but never gets very far - presumably because such a process would be time consuming and costly, and the government are no doubt aware that policing would be a nightmare!
I know of several very good private keepers of primates, they often keep far better than many zoos/wildlife parks and indeed sanctuaries.. and most of them do not refer to them as 'pets'!
There are many ways we can all improve the lives of captive primates -
If you know of one being kept in a parrot cage in someone's living room, contact the police and RSPCA.
If you see an ad for an 8 week old monkey, message or call the seller and (politely) direct them to DEFRA's primate code or to www.marmosetcare.com.
Ask classifieds' sites to remove inappropriate ads for primates (young monkeys, single monkeys, any suggesting they can be kept indoors in a 'cage' etc etc)
Tell everyone you know that they are NOT pets and require specialist care
If you don't like your local pet shop selling primates, tell them. Tell the council. ...And the list goes on.
Posted by: Carly | 22 Mar 2013 13:01:15
You cannot import primates unless you are balai approved,so that is not true about massive imports.90% of monkeys kept as pets are mamosets,which are not and never have been on DWA licence.I do not believe for one second that there are thousands of illegal dwa monkeys in private hands.Also squirell monkeys and tamarins use to be on licence and were took off-WHY,i ask.The first port of call has to be pet shop,these animals should not be sold from such outlets.To place a ban is ridiculous,many private keepers manage their animals with as much if not more thought than spectacles in zoos.
Posted by: peter | 13 Mar 2013 12:22:29
there also needs to be a ban on these animals being used in medical research !!! get them out of vivisection laboratories.
Posted by: dee donworth | 06 Mar 2013 17:37:24