New Primate Licensing Laws in the UK
On 6th April, new licensing regulations governing the keeping of primates as ‘pets’ in England officially came into force, following years of campaigning by Freedom for Animals alongside a coalition of animal protection organisations, experts and advocates who have long raised serious concerns about the welfare of primates kept in private homes.
Although this marks an important acknowledgment by the government that primates are unsuitable as ‘pets’, and the legislation sets out minimum standards for housing, care and record-keeping, our position remains clear: this is not a sufficient solution to protect these animals from exploitation and harm, and crucially, still permits primates to be kept in private ownership.
Simply, no matter how detailed the standards are, a domestic environment can never meet the complex needs of a wild animal.
You can read more on our website, here.
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