(Lynne also backed a parliamentary motion
calling on the Government to take action on this issue.)Many people will be
shocked to learn that it is still legal in the UK to keep a primate as a pet – for
some species you do not even need a licence.
IFAW
launched its in-depth report ‘Born to be wild’ at the parliamentary reception,
revealing that there may be as many as 1,500 to 3,000 monkeys and other primates being
kept as pets in this country.
The
report takes a close look at the animal welfare, conservation, and public health and
safety threats of this trade, and includes stories about monkeys and other primates
smuggled into Europe, or rescued from private owners.
IFAW
is calling on the Government to ban private owners from keeping pet monkeys, lemurs and
other primates and to stop the trade in all primates for pets.
Lynne
Jones said: “Monkeys and other primates are wild animals which normally live in
tropical forests. It’s almost impossible for private owners to care for them
adequately in captivity and the animals suffer as a result.
“All
species of primate are threatened in the wild, and the pet trade is an added pressure on
their numbers. By allowing people in Britain to keep them as pets, we are sending the
wrong message to developing countries struggling to prevent illegal hunting and wildlife
trade.”
ends
For
more information, please contact:
Lynne
Jones on 020 7219 4190
For
information about the report, contact:
Gill
Sanders – Tel: 0207 587 6714, Mob: 07801 613524
Rosa
Hill – Tel: 0207 587 6715, Mob: 07801 613530.
Visit
www.ifaw.org to download a copy of the report.
NOTES
TO EDITORS:
Key
findings of the report:
· Primates are
wild animals, whether captive bred or born in the wild, and do not make suitable pets in
our homes.
· Primates are
highly intelligent, long-lived, and social tree-dwelling animals. It is virtually
impossible for a private keeper to meet their physical and psychological needs in
captivity. Boredom and frustration lead to aggression, repetitive behaviour (such as
rocking and over-grooming), and self-injury.
· All primates are
threatened in the wild. The keeping and trade in pet primates creates a demand for
threatened and endangered animals to be hunted illegally from the wild. Large numbers of
primates die during capture and transport.
· Keeping primates
as pets poses health risks to people. Because primates and humans are biologically
similar, there is particular risk of disease transfer. Primates also have the potential
inflict severe injuries.
· IFAW researchers
discovered how easy it is to obtain a pet primate in the UK. During one week in January
2005, more than 140 primates were advertised for sale on the Internet; From 1999 to 2002,
345 primates were advertised for sale in ‘Cage and Aviary Bird’ magazine; one in
15 pet shops (from a sample of 750) offered to help source a pet primate.
IFAW’s
main recommendations to the UK Government:
Phase out the keeping of primates in
private ownership
Prohibit the trade in all primates
for commercial and personal purposes
Introduce a licensing system for
sanctuaries caring for primates
Increase resources for enforcement of
legislation
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