{"id":35954,"date":"2024-02-12T10:37:52","date_gmt":"2024-02-12T09:37:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/897223c6-6d16-4cdc-ad03-974e16bfd4d4"},"modified":"2024-02-12T11:35:40","modified_gmt":"2024-02-12T10:35:40","slug":"pet-monkeys-get-welfare-lifeline-under-new-english-rules","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/pet-monkeys-get-welfare-lifeline-under-new-english-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Pet monkeys get welfare lifeline under new English rules"},"content":{"rendered":"

New licensing will restrict keeping of primates as pets in England within the next two years. <\/p>

By Kenny Taylor\n <\/p>

Published: Monday, 12 February 2024 at 09:37 AM<\/p>

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Legislation introduced recently by the UK Government will mean tight future controls on domestic keeping of primates<\/a>. This follows years of campaigning by the RSPCA. <\/p>

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.\u00a0<\/p>

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.<\/p>

Marmosets are the most commonly kept and traded monkeys in the UK. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

In many ways, marmosets typify why primates in general are unsuitable as pets. They\u2019re 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.\u00a0<\/p>

As a result, a marmoset kept alone, eating a limited diet in a small domestic space can suffer severe stress and other health problems. <\/p>

RSPCA inspectors report regularly seeing \u2018pet\u2019 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.<\/p>

RSPCA inspectors report regularly seeing \u2018pet\u2019 primates with behaviour issues and very poor health.<\/p><\/blockquote>

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.<\/p>

“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 \u2013 ensuring primates can only be kept in an appropriate environment, as we all strive to create a better world for every animal.”<\/p>

\"Marmoset
Marmosets descended from animals whose main home is in the tropical rainforests of South America. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

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.<\/p>

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.\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>

UK Animal Welfare Minister, Douglas Miller said: \u201cPrimates are intelligent and curious animals and we\u2019re delivering on our pledge to ban the keeping of these inquisitive creatures as pets.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

Welcoming the UK Government\u2019s commitment to end domestic primate keeping, Dr Ros Clubb, head of the RSPCA\u2019s Wildlife Department, said she hoped that this will\u00a0\u00a0put an end to the shocking situations RSPCA inspectors have seen: \u201cwith 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.\u201d<\/p>

The Welsh Government is now consulting on licensing of private primate keepers.<\/p>