Monkeys are highly intelligent animals sharing 98.8% of their DNA with humans, but that hasn’t stopped a frightening rise in the number of primates being kept as pets and abused in the UK.
These social and complex creatures have needs far outweighing those that can be provided in a house or flat. Although many of us wouldn’t expect to walk into someone’s home and find a monkey in a cage, it is estimated that there are 7,000 being kept in the UK.
Monkeys, chimpanzees and apes are being torn away from their mothers when they are just a few weeks old to be hand-reared by humans – a practice the RSPCA describes as ‘cruel and distressful’.
So far, more than 30,000 people have signed a petition to stop these horrific practices and help to save the primates from a life of misery.
No animal deserves to be treated in this shocking way but the RSPCA is giving us all the chance to put a stop to it!
They are often kept in completely inappropriate housing such as parrot cages and sheds, which causes behavioural problems and a depressing life for these extremely clever animals. And the RSPCA found that primates were being kept on their own in 60 per cent of cases they investigated – which is a far cry from the structured and vast social environments they have in the wild.
But the RSPCA is trying to change things.
These social and complex creatures have needs far outweighing those that can be provided in a house or flat. Although many of us wouldn’t expect to walk into someone’s home and find a monkey in a cage, it is estimated that there are 7,000 being kept in the UK.
Monkeys, chimpanzees and apes are being torn away from their mothers when they are just a few weeks old to be hand-reared by humans – a practice the RSPCA describes as ‘cruel and distressful’.
The charity is completely against monkeys being kept as pets – and are calling for a ban on the keeping and trade on primates as pets.
Their latest research has identified areas in the UK where the charity receives the highest number of calls about primates being kept in distressing conditions – with Greater Manchester coming out on top.
One RSCPA worker explained that ever single prosecution case they saw involving primates always centred on the animal being “neglected and living in an environment that does not meet their needs.”
One involved case involved a four-month-old Marmoset called Mikey, who was owned by a pensioner who couldn’t cope with his need.
Mikey was found with seven fractured bones, which came as a result of him never being given UV light, being fed a completely inappropriate diet and not given the supplements he required for healthy growth.
His owner had sold him when he became ill, rather than take him to a vet. The owner who bought him for £650 quickly realised something was wrong when he was hunched up, looking petrified and could only shuffle along the floor.
It was discovered that he had a metabolic bone disease – a completely preventable condition – along with multiple other injuries.
Sadly, he had to be humanely euthanized by a veterinary surgeon to end his suffering. You can see Mikey’s tragic story in the video below:
Their campaign is gathering momentum but they are hoping for more people to take part.
Please sign up to the campaign and let’s all make sure we give these special animals the voice they deserve.
