Primates Shouldn't Be 'Pets'
Every year tens of thousands of nonhuman primates — captured in the wild or captive-bred — are kept in chains or in small cages not only in roadside zoos and circuses, but also in private homes as "pets," where they may languish for years and develop adverse physical as well as psychological conditions.
Born Free USA's exotic "pets" campaign aims to eliminate the trade in primates for private ownership. We work toward this goal through:
- Public awareness. Through our weekly Action Alerts and exotic "pets" investigations, as well as community outreach efforts, we keep Born Free USA members, supporters and friends apprised of the latest issues. Our Exotic Animal Incidents database lets you search by species (including primates), state, year and "facility type," a category that includes exotic "pets."
- Legislation. Our Color-Coded Map of Laws Governing Private Possession of Primates (Acrobat PDF) can tell you whether your state has any restrictions on monkey "pets." Our Summary of State Laws Relating to Private Possession of Exotic Animals is a state-by-state listing of laws that include restrictions on primate "pet" ownership. Our Model Legislation on exotic animals is one way we help activists work with policymakers.
- Direct care. Some 500 long-tailed macaques, vervets and baboons are living out their lives as naturally as is possible at the 186-acre Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary in southern Texas. Many of the monkeys arrived at the sanctuary after having been household "pets."
Get "The Facts about Primates as 'Pets.' "
