Social Media Glamorizes Monkey Ownership—Then It Turns Bad

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

Critics say social media often presents a false image of the pet’s actual needs and the reality of their temperament, leading to a slew of abandonments.

The global trade in pet monkeys and primates is being mainly driven by greed and social media, says wildlife protection advocate Nina Plail.

It’s a familiar pattern: people see a warm and fuzzy baby primate online and decide they want one for a pet.

Wild baby monkeys are “adorable,” Ms. Plail said, but their cuteness fades as they grow older and become aggressive.

Many primates will attack their owners once they reach sexual maturity at around two years old, or the owner may not realize the amount of work required to care for an adult primate.

“When bonded with a human, they’re going to cling to them like their mother. They’re going to be amazing,” Ms. Plail told The Epoch Times.

“But when they reach maturity, they almost always get aggressive. They start biting. They start singling out people in the family they don’t like. They sometimes start seeing their human caregiver as a mate, and they attack anyone who comes near.”

Once this happens, unruly primates usually end up in wildlife sanctuaries as unwanted pets or disappear.

“No human can meet the social needs of a monkey. These animals [exist] to be on the tops of trees,” she said.

Ms. Plail said she has received more than a dozen pet monkeys surrendered in the past two years to Chase Animal Rescue and Sanctuary in Webster, Florida.

In each case, the owner no longer wanted the primate because it became aggressive or was too difficult to manage.

“For one small sanctuary in the middle of nowhere, it’s a large number,” said Ms. Plail, who is the director of the sanctuary.

“For sanctuaries like ours, it probably costs us $10,000 to build a new enclosure” to house each primate.

Social media plays a significant role in the global online market for pet primates, both legally and in the black market, she said. According to some estimates, the international trade in wild primates, which remains largely unregulated, generates between $117 million and $138 million annually.

By Allan Stein

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Five Reasons Why The Latest Czech Elections Were So Important

Populist-nationalist politician Andrej Babis is poised to return to the premiership after his party's victory. Here are 5 reasons why this is so important.

Bad Bunny is the NFL’s Latest Insult

After years of advocating social justice causes, the NFL chose left wing, gender fluid rapper Bad Bunny to headline the next Super Bowl. Does the NFL want conservatives fans?

Scheduling collides with legacy

The ACC’s footprint now sprawls from Boston and Miami to Salt Lake City and the San Francisco Bay, defying both geography and its own name.

The Paradoxical Patriot: The political odyssey of Frank S. Meyer

In his book, Daniel J. Flynn examines the ideological evolution of one of conservatism’s most paradoxical and overlooked architects, Frank S. Meyer. 

This Is America: Target™ Reparations

“This Is America” explores the cultural undercurrents pulling Western...

Trump Open to ‘Right Deal’ on Obamacare Subsidies Amid Shutdown Standoff

Trump is open to making a deal on Affordable Care Act subsidies, a key demand of Democrats in standoff over temporary funding of the federal govt.

CDC Endorses Standalone Chickenpox Vaccination for Younger Children

CDC stopped recommending a combination vaccine that contains a varicella component, advising a standalone shot against the disease.

CDC Says COVID-19 Vaccination Now Up to Each Individual

CDC no longer broadly recommends COVID-19 vaccination, each person should look at a range of factors, and consult their doctor, before receiving a shot.

Illinois Sues Trump Admin to Halt National Guard Deployment to Chicago

Illinois filed a lawsuit against the Trump admin on Oct. 6 in a bid to halt the federal govt from deploying National Guard troops to Chicago.

Trump: All Medium, Heavy Duty Trucks Entering US Will See 25 Percent Tariff on Nov. 1

President Trump announced on Monday that all medium and heavy-duty trucks entering the United States will see a 25 percent tariff starting on Nov. 1.

Treasury Names Social Security Commissioner as CEO of IRS

Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent announced that Frank Bisignano, the head of the Social Security Administration (SSA), will also serve as CEO of the IRS.

Agencies Terminated, Descoped 94 Wasteful Contracts With $8.5 Billion Ceiling Value, Says DOGE

Various federal government agencies have terminated and descoped 94 wasteful contracts over the past five days, DOGE said in an Oct. 4 post on X.

Department of Energy Cancels $7.5 Billion in Project Funding

The Dept of Energy (DOE) said on Oct. 2 that it had terminated 321 federal grants funding 223 projects, amounting to about $7.56 billion in cuts.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central