People in England could be banned from keeping monkeys as pets under new Government proposals. Up to 5,000 primates are believed to kept as pets in the UK outside of licensed zoos, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said. The group of wild mammals, which include lemurs, monkeys and apes, are highly intelligent, require open spaces, varied diets, warmth and social contact. Dorset-based animal sanctuary Monkey World said it had taken in more than 100 primates from the UK pet trade, with 78 rescued in the past 10 years and more than 100 on its waiting list. Monkey World director Dr Alison Cronin said: “Current laws are not protecting the monkeys from abuse or neglect, as they arrive at the park malnourished, with rickets, mobility problems and psychologically damaged as a result of living in solitary confinement, inside people’s houses.
Government seeks to introduce pet monkey ban - Evening Telegraph
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Monkeys could be banned as pets, says government
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