Monkeys are not commonly domesticated animals, but still some people adopt them to gain attention.
Pet Monkey as babies: In the United States, there is a prosperous trade of pet monkeys. Import of pet monkeys was banned in 1975, but still thousands of monkeys are sold annually. Many people view monkeys as substitutes for human babies. Owners of pet monkeys often dress their pets in baby clothes and sometimes also refer to them as ‘monkids’.
Monkey Sanctuary: The sanctuary is a home for woolly monkeys since 1964.The aim of the sanctuary is to provide a suitable environment for rescued monkeys. The trust is currently campaigning against primitive pet trade. The keepers are responsible for the monkeys and they care and nurture them with a lot of love. The Monkey Sanctuary Trust provides support and advice to primate rescue centers around the world.
Monkey Adoption: By adopting a monkey you offer the animal a safe home for life. Thousands of monkeys are snatched away from the wild every year. The adults are killed and the infants are captured and sold. With a small donation received from you, the Monkey Sanctuary Trust offers a safe and happy home for the rescued monkeys. On adopting a monkey, you get a personalized photo of the monkey, a certificate and an annual pass to the Monkey Sanctuary, a fact sheet of about the species, the history of the adopted monkey and quarterly updates through newsletters. The trust is working to end primate trade of monkeys as pets.
Baby Capuchin Monkey: A baby capuchin monkey can be viewed in the wild animal babies section. These apes have big eyes and their hands and delicate fingers resemble human hands. The hair on their head resembles a monk’s hat, while the body is slender and thin. Capuchin monkeys live in low-lying forests, primary or dense. They are natives of Southern Central America and are found between Paraguay and Costa Rica and in Trinidad. They are adapted to living in places populated by man. Capuchin monkeys are tree dwellers. Glasgowzoo rescues White Throated Capuchin monkeys. The black and white markings on the head assist in recognizing them, especially in the shadowed areas of the tropical forests. They are called capuchins because they resemble the capuchin friars, who wore black caps or ‘capuches’. There are many dedicated sites that offer baby capuchin monkeys for adoption. There are many rescue centers that are non-profit and charitable organizations and when you adopt a monkey, your tax-deductible support takes care of the cost of food, shelter and enrichment programs, along with the medical requirements.
Unfortunately, selling capuchin monkeys is illegal and they are listed among the endangered species. They do not make good pets and need to co-exist within their own groups and not domesticated.
Taking responsibility of a living primate is a commitment for decades and it is not something that can be taken lightly. Monkey owners can do more for the primates, if they spend their money and energy in protecting the primate species in the wild, where they rightfully belong.