New licensing will restrict keeping of primates as pets in England within the next two years.
Legislation introduced recently by the UK Government will mean tight future controls on domestic keeping of primates. This follows years of campaigning by the RSPCA.
A public consultation in 2023 also showed almost unanimous support for a ban on keeping primates privately without owners having a relevant animal welfare license.
Up to 5,000 primates are held as pets in the UK. The most commonly kept and traded are marmoset monkeys, descended from animals whose main home is in the tropical rainforests of South America.
In many ways, marmosets typify why primates in general are unsuitable as pets. They’re long-lived, intelligent and social creatures, adapted to life roaming free in complex environments where they and their group eat a wide variety of food. They also scent-mark, spreading a musky smell not welcome in a human home.
As a result, a marmoset kept alone, eating a limited diet in a small domestic space can suffer severe stress and other health problems.
RSPCA inspectors report regularly seeing ‘pet’ primates with behaviour issues and very poor health, especially Metabolic Bone Disease (known as rickets in humans) because of inappropriate care. This painful disease causes bone pain, poor growth and softens bones in ways that can lead to deformities.
RSPCA inspectors report regularly seeing ‘pet’ primates with behaviour issues and very poor health.
David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, says: “Meeting the needs of monkeys and other primates is practically impossible to do in a household, domestic environment.
“Stopping the keeping of these primates as pets was a manifesto commitment from the Conservative Party – and it’s so important the UK Government keeps this pledge. That’s why this legislation will be a really important moment for animal welfare – ensuring primates can only be kept in an appropriate environment, as we all strive to create a better world for every animal.”
The new rules will require all private primate keepers in England to be licensed, for a fee, through their local authority. Licenses will require inspection to assess if welfare standards are high. They will be valid for no more than three years, with at least one further inspection of animals and premises during that time, followed by re-assessment if renewed permission is needed.
A public consultation in 2023 also showed almost unanimous support for a ban on keeping primates privately without owners having a relevant animal welfare license.
UK Animal Welfare Minister, Douglas Miller said: “Primates are intelligent and curious animals and we’re delivering on our pledge to ban the keeping of these inquisitive creatures as pets.”
Welcoming the UK Government’s commitment to end domestic primate keeping, Dr Ros Clubb, head of the RSPCA’s Wildlife Department, said she hoped that this will put an end to the shocking situations RSPCA inspectors have seen: “with monkeys cooped-up in bird cages, fed fast food, sugary drinks or even Class A drugs, deprived of companions of their own kind, living in dirt and squalor and suffering from disease.”
The Welsh Government is now consulting on licensing of private primate keepers.
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