Wareham: Monkey World wants tougher laws after latest rescue

Wareham-based primate sanctuary, Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre has added its 81st marmoset to those already rescued from the home-grown UK pet trade problem.

The latest to be rescued was an eight-year-old female common marmoset named Kush from Bristol.

Dean soon realised that he had been misled and would be unable to properly care for Kush so contacted Monkey World (Image: ©MonkeyWorld)

The rescue came just 24 hours before the government debated a change in law regarding regulating primates as pets in the UK on January 31.

While it is legal to keep marmosets as pets they are delisted from the Dangerous Wildlife Act, meaning anyone can buy and sell them without any register, licence or checks.

The owner of the marmoset, Dean, contacted Monkey World to ask for help once he realised he had been misled after buying what he thought were male and female common marmoset monkeys, Kush and Fleur.

Dean had bought the pair for £2,000 under the assumption that one was male and the other female as the monkeys require social companionship.

Kush the marmoset is now at Monkey World in Wareham and has been partnered up with a male. (Image: ©MonkeyWorld)

Unfortunately Fleur passed away and Dean realised, despite his best intentions, that he was unable to give Kush the care she deserved.

He had spent thousands on large indoor and outdoor enclosures, with perching, heating and fed her the correct diet. 

Director of Monkey World, Dr Alison Cronin, agreed to take in Kush, as another recent pet trade rescue, Moschino, needed a partner.

Dr Cronin said: “Today Monkey World was able to help Kush the female marmoset that was sold for £1,000.

"She is eight-years-old and could live for another five or more years. As an intelligent, social, wild animal she needs companionship of her own kind in order to communicate, groom, and sleep together – all things humans cannot provide or replace.

"The laws in UK today are not good enough to ensure that monkeys who are kept privately in the exotic pet trade receive the care they need.

"Instead, we continue to rescue monkeys from private homes that are kept in solitary confinement, often in bird cages in sitting rooms.

"It is tragic and we still have more than 70 monkeys on our waiting list. I hope that the government follows through with its commitment to improve the legislation to protect individuals like Kush and Moschino.”

Moschino was living in a tiny cage and was uncared for by his owner (Image: ©MonkeyWorld)

Compared to many, Kush was lucky. In 2022 the RSPCA confiscated her future partner, Moschino, who was found living in a tiny carry cage, held together by ribbons, hidden behind a mirror.

A spokesperson for Monkey World added:  "The UK government must understand that this is not a law for popularity, but one that has true consequences for primates and the UK public.

"Monkey World is calling on the public to watch the parliament debate and form their opinions on whether the laws will help the UK primate pet trade population."