Many people want to have a pet like no other, however, the last United Kingdom government issued a strange rule prohibiting monkeys from keeping them as pets. Although the law won't come into force until April 6, 2026, anyone who wants to keep monkeys going forward will have to have an environment of "zoo-level standards".
The government at the time claimed that "these wild monkeys have complex social needs and they cannot be properly cared for in the current environment, and the new measures will improve the situation." By law, all private monkey keepers are required to have a license issued by the local government, and failure to comply with the conditions of the permit will result in unlimited fines or a ban on keeping monkeys. ”
According to official figures, up to 5,000 monkeys are currently kept as pets in the United Kingdom, and the new rule could lead to a significant increase in monkey populations at zoos across the country. Still, the news was welcomed by David Powers, head of public affairs at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
"It is almost impossible to meet the needs of monkeys and other primates in a home environment, and this legislation will be a very important moment for animal welfare," he said. Doing so ensures that primates are kept in the right environment, and we all strive to create a better world for each animal. ”