A Captive Primate Safety Act is currently being considered by the US Congress. If passed, the Act will ban the interstate commerce of monkeys, apes and other primates for the exotic pet trade.
Currently, there is a patchwork of state laws regarding “pet” primates.
Twenty-two states ban private possession of primates and three states have a partial ban. Eleven states require a licence or permit for some or all primates, and 14 states allow primates as pets, with virtually no oversight.
However, primates are easily obtained via the Internet and through out-of-state dealers and auctions, making federal legislation necessary to support the efforts of state law enforcement.
Charla Nash of Born Free USA, together with members of The Humane Society of the United States, recently met with members of Congress to advocate the passing of the bill.
The House of Representatives supported the bill in 2009 but it has yet to be passed by the Senate.
This year it has been reintroduced and is currently is pending in both the Senate and House.
Charla’s interest is a personal as well as professional one. In February 2009, she went to the aid of her neighbour when her 200lb pet chimpanzee escaped.
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