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MPs reject immediate ban on monkeys being kept as pets

MPs rejected an immediate ban on primates, such as monkeys, being kept at pets, despite protests from animal rights campaigners who say the animals cannot be properly cared for "in a household environment".

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RSPCA: Monkeys are 'wild animals not household pets'

Primates have "very complex needs" that cannot necessarily be met in a "household environment", an animal rights campaigner said.

Senior scientific officer Dr Ros Clubb for the RSPCA said:

In the absence of a ban, we welcome the committee's recommendations to review and improve Defra's Code of Practice for the Welfare of Privately-Kept Primates.

Primates have very complex needs and the level of suffering is high if these requirements are not met.

In short, primates are wild animals that cannot have their needs met in a household environment. They are not pets.

Specialist expert knowledge and facilities are required to look after primates properly, which the vast majority of people lack. This is illustrated by the increase in the number of convictions for cruelty to primates.

– Dr Ros Clubb

Care for primates 'must be the same as a zoo'

Primates are entitled to the same level of care they would get in a zoo from their owner if they are kept as a pet, a group of MPs has said.

Chair of the Commons environment, food and rural affairs select committee, Anne McIntosh, said:

We call on Defra to commission independent research to establish the extent of problems in this area and report back to us with a plan of action within six months of receiving the research results.

In the meantime, we recommend a number of changes to the current regulatory framework governing primates kept by private individuals to help protect their welfare over the short to medium term.

The Government must ensure standards for primates kept in private match those required in zoos. The quality of care that these animals enjoy should be the same.

– Conservative MP Anne McIntosh

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Primates as pets ban rejected by MPs

MPs have rejected an immediate ban on keeping monkeys and other primates as pets, despite pleas from animal rights campaigners.

Read: Zoo delighted at monkey returns but baby still missing

The amount of UK households with a monkey kept as a pet is not known. Credit: PA

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee dismissed "draconian" prohibition preventing people from taking in primates as pets.

MPs pointed to a lack of "reliable, compelling evidence" as to why they were rejecting the ban.

The RSPCA has estimated the number of primates kept as pets is roughly between 2,000 - 7,000. Other campaigners have put it is high as 20,000.

Read: Airport alert after five rare monkeys stolen from Blackpool Zoo

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