Put an end to monkey business

Re “Searchers comb mountain for missing chimpanzee,” July 1

The escape of a former pet chimpanzee, Moe, is a sad reminder of the dangers and difficulties of keeping primates as pets.

Chimpanzees are much stronger than humans, but even a small monkey can cause serious injuries and carry disease. When they grow too powerful and aggressive to manage, these social, intelligent animals are often sent to languish for the remainder of their lives in small cages, isolated from others of their kind.

California is one of 20 states that prohibit keeping primates as pets, and federal health regulations prohibit importing primates for the pet trade. Still, these animals are easily obtained through the Internet and from exotic animal dealers and auctions, making federal legislation necessary to complement state laws.

Fortunately, Congress is poised to pass the Captive Primate Safety Act, bipartisan legislation to ban interstate commerce in primates as pets. It passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly on June 17. The companion bill in the Senate, introduced by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and David Vitter (R-La.), was approved by the Committee on Environment and Public Works last year.

We urge Congress to pass this bill and end this dangerous monkey business.

Beth Preiss

Director

Exotic Pets Campaign

Humane Society of

the United States

Gaithersburg, Md.