Page 3 - Kids-corner magazine DEF
P. 3
IMPORTANT
If you or a friend are thinking about pur- how hard you try to give them
chasing a monkey as a pet, we hope that a good life, you will still cause
psychological damage to your
you will take into consideration the follow- beloved monkey. Period.
ing reasons that primates of any kind make
Purchasing a monkey fuels
terrible pets and choose not to contribute 8 the exotic pet trade. It en-
to the primate pet trade. courages primate breeders to
continue the vicious cycle, and
poachers to continue to kill
adult primates so they can take
Monkeys are ripped from be second in command. This their babies to sell. Don’t con-
1 their mother’s arms as ba- means that generally a primate tribute to this sad, abusive sup-
bies (at just a few days old) to will bond with one person who ply and demand trend.
be sold to humans as pets. Not they think is in charge, and
only is this extremely traumat- then perceive everyone else You may think a sanctuary
ic for the baby, but also to the as the enemy. They will attack 9 is your fallback plan if your
mother. humans with vicious bites and monkey gets aggressive, how-
scratches to maintain their ever space is extremely limited
Primates are expensive to status in the group. This means and there is not always room
2 purchase and care for. They ultimately you will be left alone or funds available for your
have very specific diet, enrich- with your monkey, cut off from primate to be taken in. Many
ment, and housing needs that normal social interactions with primate pets end up living in
are expensive and will take up your family and friends, and a small cage with no way to
most of your time. unable to enjoy time away safely clean or enrich them be-
from your home or to take cause pet owners are unable to
As babies they are ador- family vacations. secure sanctuary placement for
3 able and sweet, but once their pets and they are afraid of
they hit puberty (around age 3) Monkeys can carry para- being injured.
their demeanor will complete- 6 sites and zoonotic diseases
ly change. They will become that are dangerous to humans. f you have any further ques-
unpredictable, aggressive, un- They may seem to be in per- Itions, or need clarification on
manageable, and dangerous, fect health, but when they in- any of the reasons you should
often biting and scratching evitably bite or scratch you, never get a pet monkey, please
even their most favored care- you may end up with a variety send us an email.
giver. of health issues passed to you
from your monkey that were
They will destroy your home dormant in the monkey’s sys-
4 and make it stink! Life at tem.
our sanctuary allows these
animals the freedom to express Primates are social animals
these species-specific behav- 7 who need to be around their
iors, without forcing them into own kind in order to develop
difficult, hands-on situations. normally, both psychologically
We are able to feed, clean, and and emotionally. Humans are
enrich all primate areas. no substitute for a real mon-
key mom’s care. No matter
Hierarchy! Primates natu-
5 rally want to be the one in kids@balimain.org
charge in a group, or at least
