The previous Conservative Government stood on a 2019 election pledge to ‘ban keeping of primates as pets’ but instead of bringing in a ban announced a licensing scheme for private primate keepers which came into effect from 6 April 2026. The new licensing means ‘zoo welfare standards’ must be met for all primates kept in England.
The licensing scheme only applies to England and not the whole of the UK where there are an estimated 5,000 primates kept as pets.
Without adequate implementation and enforcement, the new legislation does little to protect primates in homes across England. Primates with owners who are not in a position to meet licensing requirements are at risk of abandonment or euthanasia, as highlighted by the recent discovery of a marmoset abandoned on a London bus and the lack of licensing applications that councils across England have received.
Will YOU help keep up the pressure and call for a complete ban on the keeping of primates as pets? This is the only way to save the primates and stop their suffering.
Please take action TODAY and call for your MP’s support. Thank you.
