Captive Primate Safety Act Passed: Needs Support

By: Jo Singer

As an avid animal lover, I was extremely alarmed and dismayed with the story released a couple of weeks ago, about Travis, the "beloved" 13-year-old, 200 pound Chimpanzee, living as a house pet in Connecticut, who suddenly and savagely attacked his owners friend, maiming her seriously. Sadly, this attack resulted in Travis being shot and killed by Stamford police.

Chimps can reach upwards of 200 lbs

According to an Associated Press article dated February 18, Travis's owner had given him Xanax, a tranquillizing drug, without a prescription, when he became agitated a few days prior to the attack. The Chief of psychiatry at the University of Chicago Medical Center, Dr. Emil Coccaro, said, "In humans, Xanax can cause memory loss, lack of coordination, reduced sex drive and other side effects. It can also lead to aggression in people who were unstable to begin with. Xanax could have made him worse, if human studies are any indication".

I feel adamant that it both wrong and unfair for primates to be kept as house pets. These are wild animals which require special handling and protection. Primates should not be permitted to live in our neighborhoods, or in our homes.

So I am optimistic that the recent passage of the "Captive Primate Safety Act" by the House of Representatives will also be passed by the Senate which will further protect these animals.

Once passed by the Senate, and signed into law by President Obama, this act would not only make it illegal to engage in interstate and foreign commerce with primates as pets, it will also make it extremely difficult for people to purchase chimps and other primates as pets.

The Bill's cosponsor, Representative Earl Blumenauer, (D.-Ore.) gave his reasons why the act is a good legislation, with which animal lovers will agree. He said, "Make no mistake, this bill will protect our communities and ensure the welfare of these animals. The horrific chimpanzee attack in Connecticut last week brought a renewed urgency to this issue and I am pleased with today's long overdue passage of this bill. Primates are wild animals and should not be regularly transported around the United States and integrated into our communities or our households. Today we have taken an important step toward the welfare of humans and animals."

If you wish to become involved to take action, contact your senators urging them to pass H.R. 80/S. 462. You can also use the convenient form provided by the Humane Society of the United States by visiting: https://community.hsus.org/campaign/FED_2009_primates_pets3

What are your thoughts about keeping primates as pets? Leave a comment and share your views.