Wild Child: The Dark Side of Primate Adoption

When I was a girl I used to dream about having a pet monkey. A combination of Curious George stories and a fascination with Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom sparked an intense interest in primates, but I am thankful that my childhood monkey dreams never came true.

As I grew up, the idea of owning a monkey lingered in the back of my mind, and at times I used to think that when I was older and had more space I could finally commit to providing the perfect home for a primate. The lingering remnants of this dream were shattered, for the better, when I volunteered at the Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary in Gainesville, Florida.

At Jungle Friends, the true scope of the tragedy of primate ownership was a harsh wake-up call. The more I learned about these amazing animals, the more horrified I became at the thought of trying to turn monkeys into pets. Now instead of dreaming about my own pet monkey, I am hoping for a future where monkeys will no longer be kept as pets; whether the future I hope for will become a reality, however, still remains to be seen.

Despite educational programs and public pleas from monkey rescue groups, zoos and monkey sanctuaries, monkey breeders and pet groups continue to spread misinformation about pet primates.

On websites run by monkey breeders and pet monkey enthusiasts, there will always be a warning saying not to adopt a primate unless you can provide the right type of home for it. The problem with this statement, however, is that no home can ever provide the right environment for a monkey.

The fact of the matter is that monkeys are wild animals, and they cannot be domesticated. All monkeys - from the large Macaques to the little Marmosets - have extremely complex physical, mental and social needs that simply cannot be met in a human home. Even rescue facilities and primate sanctuaries continually struggle with providing a healthy atmosphere for their monkeys. Monkeys need round the clock care and supervision, too, and they can live for over 30 years in a domestic environment.

People who breed and sell monkeys don't like to talk about the dark side of primate adoption.

For every primate baby that is adopted, there is a mother who had her baby taken from her side. Female primates that are used as breeders often become so depressed that they stop eating, they self mutilate and they become extremely aggressive.

Because owning a pet monkey is also illegal in some states and counties, breeders often sell their monkey wares underground. As a result, many of the primates sold as pets or kept by breeders lack quality health-care and live in conditions that are torturous for these highly intelligent animals.

Monkey ownership is also a no-win situation for the humans who try to turn them into pets.

I will never forget a couple I met at Jungle Friends who decided to release their long time pet monkey to the sanctuary. They realized that no matter how hard they tried, they could not provide the right type of home for their pet. It was a heartbreaking decision for them - but their pet monkey was one of the lucky ones. Monkey sanctuaries and rescue groups have long waiting lists for pet primates, and many of these facilities are under extreme financial pressure.

Monkeys have suffered enough. If you would like to help primates, volunteer at a local sanctuary, send a donation to a primate rescue group and support petitions which call for strict laws that prohibit pet monkeys.