Urge Your Lawmakers to Support Bill to Protect Captive Primates
Dear John,
This fall, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the Captive Primate Safety Act in the Senate as a companion to the House version. 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.
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 pet primates 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. They may be forced to endure unnecessary, painful procedures such as tooth extraction in an attempt to reduce potential harm to people.
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.