An e-petition that can really make a difference to primates in the UK.

You may think the UK is a nation of animal lovers and well advanced in its laws regarding what we can keep as a pet. Unfortunately this is not true, for instance did you know you can still keep a primate as a pet. Yes you did read that correctly. In the UK you can legally keep many different species of primates as pets including:

          Marmoset                  Ring Tailed Lemur                Squirrel Monkey                                                                   Capuchin

Some, like Marmosets, you do not even need a license to own, and even the ones that do there is an extremely high non compliance rate.Wild Futures (a primate welfare charity) estimates there are at least 5,000 privately owned primates as pets in the UK. 

Wild Futures has recently launched a new official Government e-petition on banning primates as pets in the UK, which reaches a debate in parliament if it reaches 100,000 signatures. This is light of the new EFRA inquiry reviewing primates as pets, click here for information.

Please sign and share this e-petition and show the Government keep primates as pets is wrong and it should be banned - click here to sign the petition.

Only together can we make a stand here and now and end this ridiculous pet trade. Generations will look back on what we do today and ask us what did we do. Lets tell them we did the right thing.

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Please read on for more information on why primates do not make good pets.

Primates suffer mentally and physically as pets as they are often kept on their own, in small, confined environments without much stimulation or the correct diet. Some of Wild Futures rescued primates have diabetes (not found in the wild) while nearly all sort of repetitive behaviour problem; like head twisting or clapping. 

None have suffered more than Joey.

From Wild Futures website:

"Joey is a black-capped capuchin monkey with a sad past and a much brighter future. He was rescued by wild futures when his owner abandoned him. Joey had been caught in the wild in South America and transported to Camden Town, London where he was kept in a flat for 9 years.

Joey had been living in a cage measuring 6ft/3ft/3ft and was kept company by a large-screen TV. He was left in the cage for 22 hours every day and due to this lack of exercise, a poor diet, cramped living conditions and lack of sunlight, Joey developed weak bones, a curved, fused spine and other disabilities that mean that later in life he will suffer from osteoporosis and other bone conditions. More disturbingly, when the primate welfare team from the Sanctuary first came to rescue Joey they found him displaying repetitive and contstant sterio-typical behaviours, where he would rock backwards and forwards in distress."







"Although the Monkey Sanctuary's vets were initially pessimistic about Joey's chances for survival and for the quality of life that he could lead with his disabilities, Joey suprised us all. On the third day he was here in Cornwall he finally emerged tentitively from his indoor enclosure and came out into the outside, feeling the sun on his face and bones finally, after ten years.
Joey will never have the same stamina or abilities as the other monkeys but he can walk, climb, run and jump and is capable of socialising and playing."






Now having been at the Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary for many years Joey has a best friend Kodak who is a very large capuchin and takes care of Joey. Finally thanks to Wild Futures Joey will be able to live the best life possible with the protection he deserves.

Kodak (right) and Joey (left) now enjoying a great life with each other

Once again please sign the e-petition telling the Government to ban primates as pets - click here

If you would like to adopt Joey or any primates in Wild Futures care please visit www.adoptamonkey.org

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!