Legislation launched not too long ago by the UK Government will imply tight future controls on home preserving of primates. This follows years of campaigning by the RSPCA.
A public session in 2023 additionally confirmed almost unanimous assist for a ban on preserving primates privately with out house owners having a related animal welfare license.
Up to five,000 primates are held as pets within the UK. The mostly stored and traded are marmoset monkeys, descended from animals whose major home is within the tropical rainforests of South America.
In some ways, marmosets typify why primates usually are unsuitable as pets. They’re long-lived, clever and social creatures, tailored to life roaming free in complicated environments the place they and their group eat all kinds of meals. They additionally scent-mark, spreading a musky scent not welcome in a human home.
As a consequence, a marmoset stored alone, consuming a restricted weight-reduction plan in a small home area can undergo extreme stress and different well being issues.
RSPCA inspectors report recurrently seeing ‘pet’ primates with behaviour points and really poor well being, particularly Metabolic Bone Disease (often called rickets in people) due to inappropriate care. This painful illness causes bone ache, poor development and softens bones in methods that may result in deformities.
RSPCA inspectors report recurrently seeing ‘pet’ primates with behaviour points and really poor well being.
David Bowles, head of public affairs on the RSPCA, says: “Meeting the wants of monkeys and different primates is virtually unimaginable to do in a family, home setting.
“Stopping the preserving of those primates as pets was a manifesto dedication from the Conservative Party – and it is so necessary the UK Government retains this pledge. That’s why this laws will probably be a very necessary second for animal welfare – making certain primates can solely be stored in an applicable setting, as all of us try to create a greater world for each animal.”
The new guidelines would require all personal primate keepers in England to be licensed, for a charge, via their native authority. Licenses would require inspection to evaluate if welfare requirements are excessive. They will probably be legitimate for not more than three years, with at the very least one additional inspection of animals and premises throughout that point, adopted by re-assessment if renewed permission is required.
A public session in 2023 additionally confirmed almost unanimous assist for a ban on preserving primates privately with out house owners having a related animal welfare license.
UK animal Welfare Minister, Douglas Miller mentioned: “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 dedication to finish home primate preserving, Dr Ros Clubb, head of the RSPCA’s Wildlife Department, mentioned she hoped that it will put an finish to the stunning conditions 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 personal primate keepers.
