monkeys

[Keirs]

Do you need a special thing to have a monkey r a chimp in your house

[WaldoMcFroog]

Specifically, you need a monkey or a chimp...  ;-)

 

The local authority may require you to get planning permission(!) and will issue a licence. The authority is required to specify conditions which:

require the animals to be kept only by persons specified in the licence;
require the animals to be normally held at the premises specified in the licence;
require the animals not to be moved from those premises unless in circumstances allowed for in the licence;
require the licence holder and person keeping the animals to be insured against liability for damage caused by the animals to the satisfaction of the LA;
restrict the species and numbers of animals;
require a copy of the licence to be made available by the licence holder to persons entitled to keep the animals; and
any other conditions necessary or desirable to secure the objectives specified in paragraphs (c)-(f) listed under 'matters for consideration' above.

 

 

[WaldoMcFroog]

Incindentally, many credible sources including vetinarians would argue against keeping primates - they're not really suitable for pets.

[New Forester]

Very many primates are endangered species in the wild.  Chimps, for example are extremely threatened.

 

The pet trade creates a demand for wild-caught animals, which in practice are generally caught by killing the mother of a baby and probably several others of the group.  This applies even if your particular individual is captive-bred, as you are stimulating a more general market.  Keeping primates as pets is therefore an extremely damaging influence on wild populations.

 

Secondly, all primates are social animals which need their own kind.  You cannot give them this.  Even if you ignore those needs, they are extremely demanding pets indeed -- you either need to be with them the whole time, or confine them in inhumane circumstances.

 

Next, there is special legislation for internationally endangered species, which include all apes as well as many other things.  I don't know the details of this law in the UK, but I'm sure there are additional licences needed to keep such species, and that you simply won't get them for many of them -- almost certainly including chimps.  You'd probably have to show that you were truly benefitting the wild species somehow.

 

So I suggest that overall perhaps it's not all that good an idea...

[Patrese]

Remember that chimps only drink PG Tips.

[smudge]

Nice one Patrese! I always wanted a pet chimp - but since clearing up after our visiting Grandchildren I've changed my mind!