Take Action for Primates Before This Week's Congressional Hearing
Dear John,
We're excited to see progress in our fight to end the sale of primates as pets. The Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee is holding a hearing on the Captive Primate Safety Act this Thursday, June 25. This bill (H.R. 1776/S. 2562) would end the inhumane and dangerous interstate pet primate trade, and we need your help to attract additional support in Congress.
The total number of pet primates in the United States is unknown, but most estimates suggest there are tens of thousands. These animals often suffer enormously in captivity--almost all are kept in relative isolation, tethered or in small cages, with inadequate nutrition and little chance to express natural behaviors.
Breeders provide a continuous supply of baby primates to meet the demand, and the internet is rife with advertisements for primates for sale. A person can buy virtually any species of monkey or ape, but buyers rarely understand the truth about owning a primate as a pet.
Pet primates also pose a serious threat to public health and safety. Since 1990, approximately 300 people have reported being injured by primates kept by private individuals. Additionally, nonhuman primates can easily transmit a wide range of viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal diseases to humans.