Okay, so after reading and participating in recent threads regarding primates both in this and other section of the forum, I got to thinking about the recently mentioned Codes of Practice that are proposed to be introduced.

What do you feel the Primate COP's will entail for the future of private primate keeping?

More importantly, what do you as exotics keepers and animal lovers feel they SHOULD contain to best benefit primates in private ownership?

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It's far too brief IMO mate. Nice to see descriptions of family groups though. Seeing primates brought up as "pets" is heartbreaking.

I thought the suggested cage sizes were suitable for lab animals, but not for private keeping. I'd have liked to see double some sizes, and four times others.

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Wanted: someone in North London area who can help me learn more about keeping venomous snakes. Happy to donate to food costs etc in return for experience.

monkeys rock !!!

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Yes well thankyou for that, that really inspires doesn't it?

Again as l suggested to you in the pm, read the thread starting post properly.

R

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I think that whilst certain things may be acceptable to many novice keepers of primates now in so far as morals - 'should we decide for the benefit of a single primate whether he/she should be kept alone' which does not take into consideration are the primates themselves suffering from being kept in singles?

But l do believe that when the codes of practice for primates appear that they will take into consideration this aspect alone and as such will work the moral implication into the codes.

I also think that these codes will concentrate more upon the diet, enclosures and behaviour.

I hope that when these codes do appear it will make more people thinking of securing primates to their collections think very, very carefully, and one can also hope make them truly research into the primate species themselves.

As l have written before, whilst it may not be perceived as an offence to not stick to the code, should something happen where upon a keeper does find themselves in the position of being in court due to a breach of the AWA, then they would have to justify to that court that the code they are complying with was much more beneficial to the health and welfare of their primate than the original code would have laid out.

Judging alone what l have seen written in this forum to date, l feel that many novice keepers may not even be stated as 'specialist keepers' in the first instance, the first failing many make is to try and justify that their chosen primate is a pet - and this should never be conceived with primates - for they are not pets they are indeed an exotic species that must be kept and treated as such.

I think in light of the political sensitivity of this species and the fact that there are many, many parties that oppose primate keeping by the private individual l should imagine that the codes will be seen as a blessing by those whom are truly dedicated to primate keeping and by those who see them as 'pets' as a nightmare.

I think the codes will make it hard for most novice keepers to comply with, not so much as financing their species, but in the absolute essentiality that these animals need to be kept and maintained properly/correctly.

This will mean that at long last we can be done away with the silly notion that it is acceptable to keep ;

1] single primates

2] primates in nothing more than equates to the barbaric enclosures called parrot cages, which l think in all honesty gives the use away in the name doesn't it?

Parrot cage = parrots not primates.

3] single primates in parrot cages

There are many other points that l could mention, and yes l am sure many will say, 'you don't keep them, what do you know?'

Well readers the antis do not keep them either, that does not stop them trying to prevent through prohibition private primate keeping either does it?

I think and hope that these codes will concentrate on the behaviourial aspect of primates, and that alone should stop dead many potential keepers from even embarking upon securing primates to their collection of exotic species.

NO, this is not to say l do not support primate keeping for l do. But l do not support those whom have only half heartedly looked into the keeping of primates and nor do any of the quality keepers of primates in the UK today. That statement is aimed at any animal that a keeper is looking to secure to their collection.

I am sure there will be the hecklers amongst you for my post, but l think that what any potential primate keeper as well as existing keeper must try and comprehend, if these codes that we are hearing of do make an emergence, it will be set for primate keeping to our futures, if they do not appear it will mean that the opposition will press harder for a ban on the keeping of primates within the private sector. If they do succeed at that, then it would only be a matter of time before the curtain starts to fall upon all aspects of exotic keeping.

Hence why l would urge all keepers to really start shouting for these cop's to be written, and l would also state that whether keepers are for primate keeping or against it, that all keepers unite, just in case the primate cops do not appear.

Rory Matier
Pro Keepers' Alliance

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