Primates Belong in the Wild, Not Our
Homes
Images from commercials, television and
movies of chimpanzees, orangutans and other nonhuman primates
dressed in cute clothes and living with human families make it seem
as if it is perfectly normal to keep them as "pets." But this is
pure fantasy. Although our close relatives share much of our DNA and
are extremely intelligent, they have instincts and needs that are
not adaptable to living in our homes.
Primates are popular pets—animal welfare groups estimate there are
15,000 in private hands in the United States. Yet forcing wild
animals to behave as pets creates serious animal welfare and human
safety issues. As infants, may seem endearing, compliant, bundles of
fur. But as they mature, they can become aggressive and
unmanageable.
On March 3, a California man was mauled and his wife was
injured by two chimpanzees. The couple was visiting their former
pet at an exotic animal facility when two other chimpanzees
escaped and attacked. The animals were shot and killed. Some
primates can also harbor deadly diseases, like herpes B, which
can be passed on to humans if they get bitten or scratched.
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Soon after the attack in California, U.S. Representatives Eddie
Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Rob Simmons (R-CT) introduced The Captive
Primate Safety Act (H.R. 1329) in Congress to prohibit monkeys,
marmosets, lemurs, chimpanzees, orangutans and other nonhuman
primates from being shipped across state lines for the pet trade.
"When we allow nonhuman primates to be kept as pets in our
backyards, we are putting ourselves and our families at risk," said
Rep. Johnson, a registered nurse. "These animals are by their very
nature, wild and unpredictable. Children can often be injured by
these animals, and we can't allow that to happen." Rep. Simmons
noted, "Nonhuman primates can carry life-threatening diseases, and
that puts us all in danger. By banning the interstate commerce of
these animals destined for the pet trade, we are keeping our safety,
and their safety, in mind."
Please
take action now and ask your U.S.
Representative to co-sponsor The Captive Primate Safety Act.
Standing Up
for Seals
Last week, protesters in 56 cities and 27 countries told Canada
loud and clear: stop the seal hunt now.
You can help end the slaughter... |
Save Wild Horses and Burros
Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) joins
the fight to save wild horses and burros. Urge your U.S.
Senators to co-sponsor his bill to return federal protections to
these living symbols of America.
Take action... |
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Recent Victories
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» California pseudo-sanctuary Tiger Rescue owner faces
sentencing for animal abuse.
Read more...
» Oklahoma state senators successfully block bill to
legalize "gamecock boxing."
Read more...
» Miami-Dade County rejects proposal to allow slot machines
at dog tracks.
Read more
from the Las Vegas Sun...
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Still Needs Action
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» The Sportsmanship in Hunting Act of 2005, which aims to
crack down on "canned hunts," is gaining momentum in
Congress. If you haven't yet asked your Senators to
co-sponsor this bill,
please take action today.
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Federal Agency
Hears Your Voice...But Doesn't Listen
I never guessed that HumaneLines
would make it into the Federal Register.
That's right. In January, we
asked you to submit comments opposing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service's (FWS) draft list of more than one hundred species of birds
who would lose federal protection because they are considered
"non-native." Hundreds of you submitted letters to the agency,
stating that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act should continue to
protect all migratory birds, regardless of their country of origin,
and that the government's plan to exclude them flies in the face of
our international treaties with Canada, Mexico, Russia, and Japan.
You can now be assured that the FWS received your comments—but
apparently the agency doesn't take public comments very seriously.
In publishing its final list of 124 birds losing protection in
March, the FWS all but ridiculed the hundreds of people who wrote in
opposing the new rule:
"Opposition to the draft list came from 4
animal-rights organizations...2 law firms...and some 770 private
citizens. The vast majority of the latter comments are directly
traceable to a
posting made on January 13
to a free, weekly e-mail subscription service maintained jointly by
the Fund for Animals and the Humane Society of the United States to
notify their members of 'hot issues in animal protection' and
encourage them to write to public officials. Nearly all of these
comments repeat the four 'talking points' included in the alert and
exhibit other similarities indicative of a common origin."
Do you believe we had the nerve to alert our members and
constituents to a federal rule affecting animals? How dare we
encourage citizens to participate in a public process? If the FWS is
going to solicit public opinion, they need to give the public more
consideration than just lip service. Our federal government should
be more than just a make-work exercise, a rubber stamp, or a classic
Alice in Wonderland case of "first the answer, then the question."
This just means that we need to
work to get even more comments in to our federal agencies. Each time
you take a few minutes to adapt provided talking points into your
own words is an extra step to ensure that your voice is heard. It's
time for our government to start actually listening to what you are
saying.
Sincerely,
Mike Markarian,
President
HSUS Fund for Animals
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