Primates Don't Belong in People's Houses
Dear John,
Since the Captive Primate Safety Act (H.R. 3135/S. 1588) was introduced in May, it has acquired support from dozens of members of Congress. It also received a hearing in the House Natural Resources Committee in July. However, our work is just beginning. We need your help to continue moving this vital bill forward.
Nonhuman primates are not pets. They are highly intelligent and typically social wild animals whose basic needs cannot be met when kept in a human home. The Captive Primate Safety Act would ban the private possession of primates and restrict direct contact between the public and these animals.
Breeders within the United States provide a continuous supply of baby primates to meet the insatiable demand. The internet is rife with advertisements for primates for sale, and these dealers ship them to buyers around the country. A person can buy virtually any species of monkey or ape, but buyers rarely understand the truth about owning a primate as a pet.
The total number of primates kept as pets is unknown due to inadequate governmental oversight under current laws, but estimates are in the 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. They may be forced to endure unnecessary, painful procedures such as tooth extraction in an attempt to reduce potential harm to people.