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Why Monkeys Aren’t Good Pets
Ways to Help Monkeys
List of Monkeys
It’s hard to deny the allure of having a monkey as a pet, especially given how fun it looks on television shows and movies, so you may be wondering which monkeys make the best pets. However, you should know that the reality of owning a primate is in stark contrast to the way that you probably imagine it. These creatures require outrageous amounts of care and space, and many species can become aggressive or violent, even after years of peaceful cohabitation.
That said, many people do keep monkeys and other primates as pets; in the U.S. alone, it’s estimated that approximately 15,000 primates are currently being kept as pets.1 Of course, with more than 330 different species to choose from, some monkeys may make better pets than others.
However, adopting a pet monkey isn’t advised. In this article, we explore this concept further.
The 10 Reasons Why Monkeys Don’t Make Good Pets
When it comes to keeping pets, certain animals reign supreme. Dogs, cats, birds, and goldfish tend to be the most common pets for a variety of reasons. They are easy to care for and generally docile and have been domesticated for long enough to present traits that make them good companion animals.
Monkeys display none of these traits. Here are other reasons that you shouldn’t adopt monkeys.
1. There Are Ethical Concerns
A baby monkey that’s up for sale can only be acquired by one of two means:
- The monkey’s mother was shot by poachers or hunters, and the infant was retrieved from the mother’s body (assuming that the monkey was not crushed as the mother fell down after being shot).
- The monkey’s mother was kept in a breeding facility, and her baby was taken from her at a young age, inevitably causing depression and trauma to both the mother and her baby.
It goes without saying that both these methods are extremely unethical and choosing to adopt a baby monkey only feeds into this vicious cycle. A mother primate shot in the wild also adds concern for species welfare as a whole, as they take long periods of time to mature, and the loss of a breeding female is devastating for the troop as a whole. Primates are highly intelligent and emotional, and the loss of a baby or troop female will have a profound effect on their emotional wellness.
2. They Exhibit Unpredictable Behavior
You also have to consider a primate’s behavior. There have been primates that were kept as pets for many years without incident that suddenly became violent. As monkeys mature, their demeanor and behavior can change without warning. One woman had her face and hands ripped off by a chimp that had long been kept as a pet by her close friend.
Unfortunately, another form of unexpected behavior is observed in monkeys. In captivity, they can acquire unhealthy human habits when they mimic their owners’ antics (such as chain smoking or drinking alcohol).
3. Monkeys Are Expensive
Another deterrent to keeping a monkey as a pet is the outrageous cost associated with purchasing and keeping a primate. Some monkeys aren’t too pricey, such as capuchins, which can be purchased for less than $10,000. That’s not cheap by any means, but some show-quality canines can cost as much. Start looking at bigger primates, though, and the price climbs exponentially. A chimpanzee, for example, will set you back about $70,000, which is a hefty investment for a pet.
Don’t forget about the cost of housing and upkeep. Your monkey will need a massive enclosure with high ceilings and things to climb. That’s going to cost a pretty penny to put together. Once it’s complete, you’ll also have to pay for all the food your pet needs, which will be about the same amount of food that you eat each day.
Additionally, you’ll need to pay for veterinary care, which can be quite expensive for an exotic pet. With a monkey’s massive attention requirements, you’ll have to take a lot of time off from work, so don’t count on having a full-time income if you want to keep a pet primate.
4. Monkeys Are (Very) Messy
Monkeys are exceptionally messy animals and will throw their feces and urine all over the place. Their agility and climbing abilities will enable them to easily go around the house and break furniture or destroy your property without much effort (if any).
5. There Are Health Risks to Humans
Monkeys carry many parasites and diseases that they can pass on to humans. These are known as zoonotic diseases. A monkey that is apparently healthy may easily pass an ailment to you if they bite or scratch you. At other times, they don’t even need to do that much. They may simply be a vessel that enables other parasites to transmit diseases. For example, monkeys may harbor dengue or malaria (two viral ailments that can cause fatalities in humans) that can be passed to you via a mosquito vector.
6. There Will Be Hierarchy Issues
Monkeys live in a hierarchy, a social order where one member is in charge and the others follow and protect the group. If a monkey bonds with you, they will consider just you as part of their group and will viciously bite or attack other people in order to protect you. They may also view other humans as a threat to their rank in the hierarchy if they observe them interacting with you and become violent as a form of protest.
7. Monkeys Have Social Requirements
It is widely accepted that the complex social dynamics of monkeys cannot be fulfilled in captivity by humans. Monkeys are complex animals that take time to develop and learn the intricacies of their everyday life from living in a troop. Psychological damage is inevitable in monkeys that are kept as pets.
8. There Will Be Relocation Limitations
Some people might be lulled into a false sense of safety by assuming that they can keep a baby monkey for a while and just offer the monkey up to a zoo or wildlife rescue facility when they feel that they can no longer handle the monkey’s antics and behavior. However, these places can’t always adopt newcomers, as they’re often limited by budget and the number of available enclosures they have for animals that are surrendered to them. At times, animals that end up going to these places may not receive the care or housing that a donator perceives that they would.
9. Monkey Demand Forces Supply
Although the monkey pet trade sounds horrific, the truth is that the cycle will keep repeating itself if people keep opting to buy pet monkeys. By choosing to adopt a monkey, you will feed into the cycle of denying these amazing animals fulfilling and proper lives that they only obtain in their natural wild habitats.
10. Monkeys Have Legal Restrictions
On top of all the care and cost requirements of monkeys, you’ll also have to consider the legality of owning a pet primate where you’re located. Many laws govern the captivity, transport, and sale of exotic creatures like monkeys. Many states have outright banned such exotic pets, though some states do allow them. That said, even these states have strict rules regarding the keeping of monkeys as pets, so make sure you do thorough research before deciding to purchase a pet primate. Currently, at least 15 states will allow certain types of primates to be kept as pets, though the specific laws surrounding such actions vary in each state.
Alternative Ways to Help Monkeys
If you’re looking to help monkeys without adopting a pet monkey, there are several ways that you can help out.
“Adopt” a Monkey at a Wildlife Center or Zoo
Many wildlife sanctuaries, zoos, and rescue centers offer “adoption” programs in which you financially support an animal for the duration of its stay at the facility. This is an excellent way to help monkeys, especially those undergoing treatment and rehabilitation prior to being re-released into the wild.
Participate in Seminars
Seminars on safely interacting with wildlife and protecting wildlife and the humans who encounter them frequently take place. You can help by spreading the word or volunteering at these events to learn more about conservation efforts in your area
Do Not Feed Wildlife
If you live near wild monkeys, it is best to not approach or feed them. They may become used to associating humans as a source of food, which is dangerous. This often happens at tourist attractions. Monkeys may interact with or approach tourists for food, and the abundance of resources leads to population booms. However, these monkey troops often suffer excessively when tourism hits an all-time low, and as a result, there can be excessive stress, starvation, and fights among the troop members.
Brush Up on Regulations
It’s a good idea to always be mindful of laws and regulations regarding wildlife where you stay. These laws help you learn what to do if you ever encounter a wild animal (not just a monkey).
Always Choose Love
If you’re upset about not being able to adopt a monkey, it helps to always approach these circ*mstances with love. If you love monkeys, you also know that it’s best for them to stay wild and not be introduced into the pet trade industry. Knowing that you opted out of adopting a monkey due to love is more comforting than thinking that not being allowed to do so is unfair to you.
The 7 Types of Monkeys That Are Commonly Kept as Pets
NOTE
PangoVet does not endorse or encourage keeping monkeys or other primates as pets. This list is for informative purposes only.
1. Capuchin
Capuchin monkeys are much smaller than chimps, making them easier to care for and far less dangerous. Standing less than 2 feet in height and weighing under 10 pounds, these monkeys aren’t big enough to fatally injure someone, but they could still do serious damage. Capuchins have an average lifespan of 25 years, so you could have it for a long time, but it’s not the 6-decade investment of a chimpanzee.
2. Squirrel Monkey
Squirrel monkeys are on the smaller side of the spectrum, generally reaching lengths of just 10–14 inches without the tail. This cute monkey breed usually weighs just 1–3 pounds, but they’re incredibly active and acrobatic creatures that need a lot of space. They love to hang by their tails and swing across tree branches, so you’ll need a massive enclosure with lots of trees to satisfy a squirrel monkey. They’re known to be picky eaters, though, so even though a squirrel monkey doesn’t eat as much as a chimp, you’re still likely to experience dietary difficulties.
3. Spider Monkey
Spider monkeys are one of the few types of monkeys that most people can name. Unfortunately, even though they’re often kept as pets, they’re incredibly messy! While most monkeys can be kept in diapers, spider monkeys commonly rip their diapers off and throw them around. Furthermore, they are extremely social and need even more attention and interaction than most of the other monkey breeds. Without ample attention, spider monkeys are likely to become aggressive.
4. Marmoset
Monkeys are never quiet pets, but marmosets might be the loudest of them. When a marmoset feels neglected, it will yell and scream, ensuring that you don’t miss its displeasure. These primates have a shorter lifespan than many, topping out at about 20 years. There are several types of marmosets, and on average, they’re just 8 inches long, making them one of the more manageably-sized monkeys on this list.
5. Guenon
Guenons are medium-sized monkeys that are about 16–22 inches tall and weigh 5–15 pounds on average. They’re beautiful monkeys that display a wide range of colors, including red, green, and yellow. Interestingly, guenons have hairs that are each two colors. There are more than 20 different types of guenons, with the vervet, grivet, and green being the most popular pets.
6. Tamarin
Tamarins are some of the smallest monkeys that you might keep as pets. They weigh less than a pound and live for about 15 years. You’ll only need about 7 square feet of living space for a tamarin, though they still require ample investments of time and energy.
7. Macaque
Macaques are moderately-sized primates that can weigh up to 40 pounds at the largest, though the smallest female macaques can weigh as little as 5 pounds. They require huge enclosures of 30 square feet or larger for a single monkey and will need to wear diapers for their entire lives.
Final Thoughts
While the idea ofkeeping a pet monkey might seem like a novel one, it’s not a great idea. Their physical, mental, emotional, and social needs cannot be fulfilled in a satisfactory manner when they’re kept as pets. In addition, they come with a plethora of ethical, health, safety, financial, and legal concerns, which further reinforces the case for why they should not be kept as pets.
Although adopting a monkey is something that’s definitely not recommended, it doesn’t mean you can’t be proactive in your mission to help these primates. Making donations to a sanctuary, learning about wildlife preservation, participating in conservation efforts and seminars, and being responsible when interacting with wildlife may seem like trivial tasks, but they have a profound and positive effect on the welfare of not just monkeys but all wild animals.
- See Also:How Much Does a Monkey Cost?
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
