Capuchin monkeys are one of the most common primates in the animal trade. Monkeys are certainly sociable – but only with their own species. Monkeys need the company of other monkeys to develop emotionally. If you rely on one person to keep company, your monkey will become depressed. No matter how well-intentioned you are, no matter how much of your life you give to a pet monkey, you will never be a substitute for their pack. But before you can think about where to get one and which breeds of monkeys are best suited as pets, you need to know if you can legally have one. Marmosets are the most commonly kept and marketed primate species as pets. Keeping primates indoors creates a common problem in monkey land. Houses are not suitable for animals that live happiest in nature.
The numbers make our region the capital of suffering domestic monkeys. Under UK law, it is legal to keep a monkey as a pet with a licence granted to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act, but animal welfare experts claim that only 5% of animals are actually allowed. It is wrong to assume that the hand breeding of a baby monkey represents a „tame” adult. In most cases, mothers must raise their young as nature has planned. Separating mother and child too soon would cause extreme suffering for both animals. Depending on the type of diet you feed your monkey, the cost of food can reach more than $100 per month, and owners of most monkey species need a dangerous wildlife permit. This law applies most to British zoos and animal parks. However, it is not yet necessary to conserve the most popular species of monkeys (for example, tamarinds and marmosets). Luckily, you can get a lot of toys for your pet monkey on Amazon.
The RSPCA believes that Mancunians keep more monkeys than pets than anywhere else – and says many suffer from deplorable conditions Monkeys are also dangerous pets, can sometimes be aggressive, can transmit diseases that can spread to humans, and are illegal in some places. So, while you may have a pet monkey, it`s probably best to opt for a dog or cat as they`re simply much easier to get and maintain. In the last five years, the number of complaints about abused or neglected monkeys has tripled. You can legally have a monkey in the UK, but that may not be the best idea. Monkeys are hard-to-maintain pets, and you can expect to pay thousands of dollars a year for food, habitat, veterinary care, and diapers. Greater Manchester is Britain`s illegal monkey capital, according to the RSPCA. In fact, as monkeys age and mature, they often become aggressive in the wild. This is a striking difference with the „best friend of man” at home and the general well-being of dogs. These are just a few examples of the costs that can come with owning a monkey, and it`s certainly something worth considering as rescue groups like the RSPCA and Wild Futures receive about one call every three days regarding the welfare of a monkey. The RSPCA is so concerned about humans keeping monkeys as pets that it has released a new report titled „Do You Give a Monkey”? 5 Reasons Why Monkeys Should Never Be Pets will only give you a few reasons why owning a pet monkey is a bad idea.
Note: The government has announced new proposals to ban the keeping of primates as pets in England, including lemurs, capuchins and squirrel monkeys. We will update this page as more details become available. Monkeys mainly consume fruits and vegetables, as well as animal proteins such as chicken, worms and insects. The cost of fruits, vegetables, insects and treats ranges from £21 to £45 per week. Commercial whole foods containing commercially prepared monkey food are comparable to dry dog or cat food in terms of a complete diet. The cost can also go higher if you plan to make it bigger, and can end up costing thousands of dollars if you`re considering a larger model that would accommodate many monkeys. Sorry if this offends you, but monkeys stink! Marmosets, in particular, have a musk scent that is very intimidating for humans. And don`t even think about keeping them inside. They sting, urinate all over the house, making a huge mess in the process – and this is quite normal behavior for a wild animal! It`s important to remember that despite their cute appearance, most monkeys can struggle to train on the toilet, even if it`s doable, so the cost of diapers can be inevitable.