In the wake of a highly publicised chimpanzee attack, the US House made its first official move to ban humans from owning primates as pets
In the wake of a highly publicised chimpanzee attack, the US House made its first official move to ban humans from owning primates as pets.
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Yesterday, the House overwhelmingly voted in favor of passing the Captive Primate Safety Act, which prohibits people from buying or transporting primates across state lines to keep as pets. This legislation amended the Lacey Act, which had only applied to wildlife and fish.
The Humane Society of the United States applauded the bill.
"There is no reason for any private citizen to keep a primate as a pet and this trade is driven by unscrupulous dealers who sell primates across state lines for thousands of dollars," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the HSUS.
Last week, Charla Nash was left with severe trauma to her face, scalp and hands after her neighbor's pet chimpanzee, Travis, mauled her. Police shot Travis to halt the attack, and he later died of gunshot wounds.
Nash was brought to the famed Cleveland Clinic, where USA's first face transplant was performed. Doctors there are contemplating whether to offer her a similar procedure.
As cute as they can be, primates can inflict serious injuries and spread life-threatening disease, according to the Humane Society.
The average pet owner cannot provide for their basic social and physical needs in captivity, says the organisation, which estimates 15,000 monkeys and other primates are living as either pets or in private zoos.
"As infants, they are fascinating," said Beth Preiss, who directs the organisation's Exotic Pet Campaign. "But they grow up and become dangerous to manage."
The bill now moves to the Senate.
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