Small monkey species kept as pets across Europe and North America are surrendered to sanctuaries after welfare needs cannot be met, raising questions about the pet trade in primates.
The private primate keeping trade creates welfare harms at every stage: removal from wild or captive breeding groups, solitary private keeping, inadequate nutrition, and eventual surrender to sanctuaries unable to absorb the numbers arriving. Small monkeys kept as pets are rarely provided with appropriate conspecific companionship, diet, or environmental complexity. Many arrive at sanctuaries with chronic health problems and psychological damage from years of inappropriate keeping.