Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
ARE you glad Christmas is over? If there’s one thing Christmas does, it makes us think about where we belong and, for some, this is painful.
Feeling as though we belong, whether it’s in a family group, support bubble or a place where we have roots can help us feel secure. But Christmas can make the feelings of not belonging and loneliness worse.
Of course, there are places, where no humans belong. Just before Tier 4 came into operation, I visited the London Wetland Centre and, on one gate, was the sign “Wildlife Only”. Humans clearly didn’t belong beyond that point. It’s not surprising there were some places we couldn’t go as the Centre is a haven for wildlife.
Notices such as these are a reminder that wildlife and humans shouldn’t always mix. Another example of this is when wildlife such as primates are kept as pets in people’s homes.
At present, over 85 species of primate can be legally kept as pets in the UK. The government estimate there are currently between 1000-5000 primates being kept as pets. Many live in grossly inappropriate conditions causing immense physical and psychological suffering to the animal.
For example, Leo was kept as a pet in London. This Marmoset was only two months old when the world-famous ape rescue centre, Monkey World, was asked to help.
Leo had been removed from his mother too early and was being kept alone in a small cage. His fur was matted, he could barely move because of bone disease and he dragged his back legs with pain.
Leo was fortunate as a place was found for him at Monkey World. At present this rescue centre has over 100 primates from the pet trade on its waiting list. These include many monkeys who, as they have grown older, their owners have realised they cannot give these animals the care they need.
Many readers will be familiar with the work of Monkey World as their Director, Alison Cronin, has given presentations at the Ealing Animal Charities Fair.
Alison and her team have long campaigned to stop primates being kept as pets and now there is a chance to stop this trade. Last month the government initiated a public consultation where, if we think monkeys don’t belong in people’s homes as pets, we can say so.
If you want to know more and take part in the consultation, go to the Monkey World website (monkeyworld.org) and click on the link “Click here to have your say”.