![]() ![]() "Monkeys are escape artists and pose a risk to the community when kept as pets in residential areas," says Leahy. These include ingestion of cleaning products and household plants strangulation due to leashes or cords used on window blinds burning due to contact with stoves, irons, light bulbs and candles and falling from windows. In addition to limited confines, Leahy notes other household horrors that could gravely injure a monkey. Many homeowners considering pet monkeys would definitely be unable to provide these basic habitat requirements, particularly for individuals living in cramped or urban dwellings. ![]() "Primates would much prefer to be kept outdoors in spacious, natural habitat enclosures," says Leahy. You'd also need adequate shade, water and climbing structures for primates of any kind. Primates are kept in appropriate social groupings with other monkeys of their own kind and provided with a variety of enrichments to keep them active, busy, and challenged," says Leahy.Īccording to Leahy, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums recommends that chimpanzees be kept in a habitat of no less than 2,000 square feet (186 square meters) of indoor and outdoor space and vertical heights of more than 20 feet (6 meters) similar guidelines would likely apply for monkeys as well. "In a professional setting, interactions between primates and keepers is limited. This sort of relationship between a pet monkey and a human owner is completely at odds with how primates are raised in zoos or sanctuaries. Say goodbye to that newly upholstered couch! Leahy also warned that primates will often defecate and urinate "whenever, and wherever they want, including on top of your kitchen cabinets." Monkeys will also "smear stinky substances on their bodies and others will throw excrement at people." But these behaviors are mild compared to the destruction that a bored, captive monkey can unleash on your household furniture. "Monkeys are wild animals, and keeping them in a home, dressing them in human clothing, restraining them with a collar and leash, and treating them like surrogate children won't change that," says Leahy. Expecting a monkey to conform to the norms of human society is neither normal nor likely. Born Free USA, which operates a 186-acre (75-hectare) primate sanctuary and works to end the exploitation of wild animals, also supports an end to the exotic pet trade.Īnd when a human treats a monkey like a pet instead of a wild animal, they shouldn't be surprised if the monkey behaves in ways that the human might find disagreeable. In the U.S., the Jane Goodall Institute, HSUS and the American Society of Primatologists - along with a number of zoological and veterinary organizations - oppose the private ownership of primates, which includes monkeys. There has been a push by several U.K.-based groups to move toward a ban on owning primates the Primate Society of Great Britain completely opposes pet ownership of non-human primates, according to a 2014 position statement. The website Eurogroup for Animals has a list of laws regarding pet ownership in other European countries. In the U.K., it is currently legal to own a pet monkey, but you need a permit the government has been debating bans in the past decade. If you live in the U.S., the website FindLaw provides a listing of each state's restrictions. Most states that do allow private possession of primates require a permit for legal ownership. In the U.S., restrictions are on a state-by-state basis. Many countries impose varying restrictions on whether individuals can legally own pet monkeys. ![]()
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