It is no monkey business keeping these pets
Monkeys need a large, secure enclosure and should spend time outdoors too if possible
The World Primate Sanctuary Care and Rescue Centre in Esther Park held its annual open day on November 30.
The event presented an ideal opportunity for members of the public to be educated about monkeys.
The sanctuary is a non-profit organisation and safe haven for orphaned monkeys that need a home, predominantly monkeys that are sick or have attacked their owners.
Founder and primatologist Wayne MacLeod said more knowledge is required in order to understand monkeys’ requirements, social behaviour and interaction between humans and primates.
MacLeod said monkeys should not be kept as pets. In short, primates and human beings make poor housemates.
The monkey lover also added that taking care of a pet monkey is not like caring for most other pets. A well cared for monkey can live from 20 to 40 years and needs the owner’s full commitment for the duration of their lives. A pet monkey can’t manage without the owner’s attention.
“There is something irresistible about an infant monkey. They do not grow up and mature like human children do. They are, in essence, permanent toddlers,” said MacLeod.
Explaining why monkeys sometimes become violent, MacLeod said raising a monkey around humans did not change its wild nature. In fact, depriving a pet monkey of normal social relationships with other monkeys can create behavioural problems and neuroses. Monkeys are not domesticated animals, no matter how many of them you put in your home.
“A person interested in owning a monkey should consider getting two monkeys and not just one and do their research well. Monkeys need a large, secure enclosure and should spend time outdoors too if possible. They must be provided with a wide variety of ever-changing toys and exercise equipment to keep them challenged and stimulated or they will suffer from boredom.”
MacLeod said monkeys are expensive to house as one needs a secure enclosure, proper permits and sometimes additional insurance, some even require specialised diets that can be time-consuming to prepare.
Commitment is also needed just for routine care and clean-up after a pet monkey.
“It is costly taking care of monkeys, we need a lot of financial assistance and volunteers,” said McLeod.
“We are in need of public assistance. The sanctuary needs donations from the public and sponsorship from government,” said MacLeod.
For more information, contact MacLeod on 084 597 4044.
