When private citizens keep wild animals—such as lions, tigers, bears, chimpanzees, and monkeys—as exotic pets, it never turns out well. The private possession of dangerous wild animals is a ticking time bomb for the owners and other people who live and work in their neighborhoods, and relegates the animals to wholly unnatural living conditions.
Roughly half of the states already prohibit the private possession of big cats and some or all primate species as pets, but these animals are still easily obtained over the Internet and through out-of-state dealers and auctions, making federal legislation necessary to support the efforts of state law enforcement and to promote global conservation efforts.
Thankfully, two new bills introduced in Congress this week demonstrate that lawmakers are taking proactive steps to stem the tide in these dangerous animals flowing into communities across the nation.
Reps. Mike Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., yesterday introduced H.R. 2856, the Captive Primate Safety Act, which would prohibit the interstate commerce in great apes, monkeys and other primates for the exotic pet trade. Similar legislation, led by Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and David Vitter, R-La., passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last year, but did not make it through the full Congress.
There are an estimated 15,000 primates kept as pets in the United States. Primates of all sizes are wild animals capable of inflicting serious and sometimes catastrophic injuries. A Tennessee woman was severely injured in her own driveway by a pet macaque monkey who escaped from a neighbor's home. And it's not easy to forget the horrific incident in Connecticut, where a pet chimpanzee attacked a woman—tearing off her hands, nose, lips, and eyelids, blinding her in both eyes. It’s a risk we don’t need to take in this country.
Also, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., has just introduced S. 1381, the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act, which would prohibit the private possession and breeding of tigers, lions, and other big cats. The House version of the bill, H.R. 1998, was introduced in May by Reps. Buck McKeon, R-Calif., and Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif.
Tigers, lions, and other big cat species have exploded in popularity in the exotic pet trade with an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 tigers in private hands. Even when born in captivity and hand-raised, these wild animals retain their predatory instincts. They injure and kill people, as evidenced by the hundreds of attacks by big cats in the U.S. in the last two decades alone. And with the constant overbreeding to supply baby tiger and lion cubs, the adult animals are eventually dumped on government agencies and nonprofit animal sanctuaries who have to spend millions of dollars cleaning up after reckless individuals.
Keeping primates and big cats in backyards, basements, and living rooms deprives the animals of all that is natural to them. It’s bad for public health and safety, and bad for the animals who are caught up in this trade. Please contact your federal lawmakers today and urge them to co-sponsor the Captive Primate Safety Act and the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act.
