A macaque lies on paved ground with a chain around it's neck, with a human hand holding the chain

Pet Primates

Born Free and primatology experts agree that primates are completely ill-suited for private ownership. All primates have complex social, physical, behavioural, and environmental needs and have a well-developed capacity to feel pain, suffering and distress. Nonetheless, subject to certain restrictions in some circumstances, the sale and keeping of primates as pets in the UK and many other countries is currently legal.

An estimated 5,000 primates are being kept as pets in the UK, including marmosets, capuchins, squirrel monkeys and lemurs. However, due to a lack of licensing requirements, no exact figures exist. Rescue groups such as the RSPCA and Wild Futures reportedly receive approximately one call a week relating to the welfare of a captive monkey.

Legislation

Although existing laws in Britain, including the Animal Welfare Act 2006, should offer all pets a certain level of protection, however there is often confusion over their application and enforcement or they lack specific details in the first place. England, Scotland and Wales are now covered by The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018 which regulates the sale of animals within pet shops (Schedule 3 is specific to ‘selling animals as pets’).

The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (DWAA) requires inspection and licensing for some species of animals (including some primates) considered to pose a risk of human injury. The DWAA is first and foremost public health and safety legislation, and covers animal welfare only secondarily. The schedule to the DWAA lists the species that require a licence to be kept. As of April 2026, keepers of primates listed on this schedule will require a DWAA licence in addition to a Primate Licence. However, the most commonly kept species of primate in the UK, the marmoset, is not listed.

All primates are listed on Annexes A and B of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations, which implement the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The ownership of a primate as a pet for non-commercial purposes does not require paperwork under these Regulations.

In order to buy a primate listed on Annex A, the person selling the specimen is required to have a sales certificate issued under Article 10 of the EU CITES Regulations. Primates on Annex B can be traded without CITES paperwork within the EU providing there is proof of “legal acquisition”.

Born Free has challenged the keeping of primates as pets for decades, including within our 2014 report Pet Shop Primates. Born Free will continue to push for stringent and robust licensing enforcement of the newly introduced Regulations, while urging devolved administrations to adopt an outright ban, and for UK Government to undertake a wider review of the trade in and keeping of wild animals as pets.

TAKING ACTION

Born Free is convinced no regulatory system can safeguard the welfare of primates when kept privately and that a ban on the trade and private keeping of all species of primates should be introduced across the UK. In the meantime, Born Free is calling for:

The UK government to undertake a comprehensive review of legislation governing the trade in and keeping of wild animals as ‘exotic pets’.
For the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to prohibit the private keeping of primates.
An update of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 and its extension to include pet shops, ensuring veterinary inspection and licensing continuity.

You can help us take action by writing to your MP and asking for a comprehensive review of ‘exotic pet’ legislation:

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You can also support Born Free’s work to end the keeping of primates as pets, by making a donation today:

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