Pets

All primates are really cute and amusing when they are young, thus tempting some people to keep them as pets. These infants grow quickly and soon begin to mature. At this time, they become more aggressive as a natural behaviour to increase their dominance. Concurrently, they get bigger and grow longer canines, so when they bite (accidentally or otherwise) they do more damage. It is usually at this stage that most of the owners bring their pets to us.

Kenyan law does not permit keeping wild animals. Monkeys are wild animals. In a few cases, people found keeping or selling monkeys are arrested, charged in court or fined and their ‘pets’ confiscated. After being taken to court as ‘evidence,’ the monkeys are brought to us to rehabilitate.

If you see a monkey being kept as a pet, please contact us on – +254 711 479 453 or animalwelfare@colobusconservation.org