The pet primate trade in the U.S.

The pet primate trade in the U.S. Dr Melissa Seaboch, Professor and Department Chair at Salt Lake Community College, discusses the challenges regarding the pet primate trade in the U.S., including its impact on animal welfare and owners and the complexity of regulations. Little is known about the pet primate trade, especially in non-habitat countries, including the United States. It is commonly estimated that there are 15,000 pet primates in the U.S. However, the basis of this estimate is unknown.(1, 2) A recent study on the global online trade in pet primates reported that the U.S. ranked third out of 171 countries in the ease of purchasing a pet primate online, (3) behind Indonesia and Vietnam. The same study reviewed previously published studies on the pet primate trade and the U.S., with over 500 primates found for sale in a single year, (4) ranked seventh out of 20 countries in the number of primates for sale (adjusted for study duration). Though there is widespread agreement among veterinarians and primatologists that primates do not make good pets, (4) the trade in pet primates in the U.S. appears robust.