Progress! The Captive Primate Safety Act Has Been Reintroduced

The fight to put an end to the cruel and bizarre primate pet trade in the United States, exposed for the world to see with the release of the shocking documentary Chimp Crazy last year, has taken an important step forward. Last month, the Captive Primate Safety Act was reintroduced in the United States House of Representatives by Reps. Mike Quigley (D-IL), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), and Nancy Mace (R-SC) as H.R. 3199, and in the Senate by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) as S. 1594.

This critical bill could finally help end the disturbing and dangerous subculture of people who keep primates such as chimpanzees, lemurs, gibbons, capuchin monkeys, and even baboons as pets. Animals caught up in this trade are subjected to unnatural conditions, often treated like living dolls, dressed in human clothes, fed unhealthy diets, and deprived of proper socialization with their own species. When many of these primates, particularly chimpanzees, grow too strong or aggressive to be controlled, they are frequently locked away in cages, discarded entirely, or—in tragic cases—killed after lashing out.

There are currently an estimated 15,000 primates being kept as pets in the United States. While the bill allows current owners to retain their animals, it is an essential first step in cracking down on this form of abuse and stopping the future breeding and sale of primates as pets.

You can help build momentum for the bill by signing and sharing our petition below.