Broken windows, shattered dishes, and the unsettling realization that one has made a grave mistake. Sound familiar? You may be an owner of one of the 15,000 captive primates that are kept as exotic pets in the United States (“Dangerous Exotic Pets”, 2013). Not only is this practice inhumane for the primates that are forced to live in any other place besides their natural habitat, it is also a dangerous and harmful practice for the humans that engage in this burgeoning activity. While the capture rates of monkeys have declined since the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna in 1973, there is still much progress to be made (Lewis, Jurmain, & Kilgore, 2013). When individuals disregard common sense and purchase a once wild primate, a lot more is at stake than just the health of the animal. For the purposes of my query letter, I will be referring to the ramifications that owning a pet chimpanzee can cause.
According to Lewis, Jurmain, and Kilgore (2013), the capturing of primates for the exotic pet market is one of the largest motivations for black market activity, but zoos and biomedical researchers also profit from the abduction of primates. This
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Chimpanzees, being the extremely social primates that they are, generally live in communities that range from ten to one hundred members (Lewis, et al., 2013). By separating an infant from its mother and their community, a chimpanzee can mature into an adult who displays neurotic behavior for the duration of its lifetime (“Are You Sure You Want a Monkey?”, 2008). In an attempt to counteract this unfortunate consequence, it is not recommended to only have one chimp. Instead, owners should consider purchasing more than one monkey. This way, monkeys will have the opportunity to cope with the extreme feelings of isolation and boredom they will experience in