U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and David Vitter (R-La.) have introduced the Captive Primate Safety Act, S. 1498, which would ban the trade in monkeys, chimpanzees, and other dangerous primates as pets. The Humane Society of the United States urged Congress to quickly pass this legislation to protect animal welfare and public safety.
“Keeping primates as pets puts people at risk from attacks and disease,” said Michael Markarian, HSUS executive vice president. “And it’s inhumane to keep these highly intelligent and social animals confined in small cages, pull out their teeth to make them less dangerous, or pass them from owner to owner. It’s time to end this dangerous monkey business.”
Chimpanzees and monkeys may appear cute and cooperative as infants, but they quickly grow too difficult to handle. This year alone, an 8-year-old Louisiana boy received rabies shots after being bitten by a pet lemur; a 3-year-old Michigan child was scratched by a macaque monkey and had to be treated for infection; and a federal agent who approached a home in Mississippi was attacked by a pet macaque monkey. The animals can also spread diseases such as monkeypox, tuberculosis, and herpes B virus.
“Since 2005, five states—including Louisiana—have enacted rules prohibiting primates as pets, joining states that already had such rules. This legislation complements these state laws and federal health regulations that prohibit importing primates into the United States for the pet trade,” said Senator Vitter.
Facts:
- An estimated 15,000 primates are kept in private hands in the United States.
- At least 100 people have been injured by captive primates over the past decade, including 29 children, according to the Captive Wild Animal Protection Coalition.
- Federal health regulations have prohibited importing primates into the United States for the pet trade since 1975.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that macaque monkeys are unsuitable as pets because of the health risks.
- Seventeen states have enacted laws prohibiting the private ownership of primates as pets, and additional states have some restrictions or require permitting.
- The federal bill does not ban possession, but addresses the interstate commerce in primates, who are often sold over the Internet and at auctions around the country.
- The Captive Primate Safety Act is narrowly targeted to the exotic pet trade. It will have no impact on zoos, research facilities, or legitimate wildlife sanctuaries.
- More than 50 organizations have joined The HSUS in supporting the Captive Primate Safety Act, including the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Born Free USA, and the Jane Goodall Institute.
- Senator Boxer is the chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, where the bill has been assigned, and Senator Vitter is also a member of the committee.
- U.S. Senators Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) are original cosponsors of S. 1498.
U.S. Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Tex.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) are expected to introduce a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. - A similar bill passed the U.S. Senate unanimously in 2006 but was blocked in the U.S. House by Representative Richard Pombo (R-Calif.), then-chairman of the House Resources Committee. Pombo was defeated in his reelection bid.
Timeline:
- May 24, 2007. Captive Primate Safety Act, S. 1498, introduced in the U.S. Senate.
- April 30, 2007. Washington state bill prohibiting private possession of primates and other wild animals signed into law.
- April 17, 2007. Iowa bill prohibiting primates and other wild animals as pets passed and sent to the Governor for signature.
- July 11, 2006. Captive Primate Safety Act passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent.
- June 19, 2006. Captive Primate Safety Act passed the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
- May 16, 2006. Maryland bill prohibiting primates and other wild animals as pets signed into law.
- April 6, 2006. Louisiana banned private possession of primates.
- July 27, 2005. Captive Primate Safety Act introduced in the U.S. Senate
- July 15, 2005. Kentucky banned private possession of primates and other wild animals.
- March 16, 2005. Captive Primate Safety Act introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- March 3, 2005. A man was brutally beaten by a chimpanzee who escaped his enclosure at an exotic animal facility in California.
Enviroshop is maintained by dedicated NetSys Interactive Inc. owners & employees who generously contribute their time to maintenance & editing, web design, custom programming, & website hosting for Enviroshop.