Biodiversity Minister Jim Knight has announced public consultations on the keeping of monkeys and other primates as pets, as part of a review of Government policy.
Jim Knight made the announcement today (8 June) at the launch of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) report Primates as Pets in the UK. He said the report would contribute to the debate over keeping primates as pets and help the government to make effective use of European law regulating the keeping of primates and other endangered species.
Jim Knight said:
“Based on our scientific advice, the Government does not consider primates are suitable for the general pet trade, which is why we currently limit imports of these species to specialist keepers, who must be able to demonstrate both that they are sufficiently well equipped and experienced to house and care for them.”
Interviewed on BBC News 24 yesterday, Director of Twycross Zoo Susie Boardman said that the quality of care primates need is usually beyond what can be provided in a home.
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Keeping monkeys as pets – public consultation announced
They're extremely intelligent, they can become very destructive, but more importantly most of them are very social animals needing to be in appropriate groupings and needing lots of environmental enrichment and entertainment,” she said.
It is estimated that there are currently at least 3000 primates kept as pets in this country. Asked whether legislation against the keeping of primates of pets might make matters worse for primates currently kept in private homes, Ms Boardman said:
“The last thing I think anybody wants is that animals suffer as a result of badly implemented legislation. I think that has to be very carefully looked at and I think that the care of the animal should always be paramount.”
The consultations are planned to begin at the end of July.