Dr Neil Hudson MP has backed new legislation to ban the keeping of primates without a license.
The legislation brings in a licensing scheme setting strict rules to ensure that only private keepers who can provide the highest welfare standards will be able to keep primates.
Dr Neil Hudson MP said: “Primates are incredible complex creatures that deserve the highest of welfare standards and that is exactly what this new legislation delivers on.
"Having sat on the Kept Animals Bill Committee that examined this vital primate issue closely, I really welcome this legislative change."
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It is estimated that up to 5,000 primates are kept as pets in the UK. These wild animals have complex welfare and social needs and, according to most experts, cannot be properly cared for in a domestic setting.
Under the changes, introduced via secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it will no longer be possible to keep primates in domestic settings as household pets in environments that fail to provide for their needs.
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