Marmosets may be small primates, but their welfare needs are complex and demanding.

At APES Shelter, we regularly encounter cases where individuals underestimated the size, cost and daily commitment required to care for these animals properly.

Our position is clear. Keeping a marmoset is not occasional feeding and cleaning. It requires structure, planning and sustained daily engagement.

In England, all primates including marmosets now fall under the Animal Welfare Primate Licences Regulations.

From April 2026, anyone keeping a primate must hold a local authority licence or face prosecution.

The licensing system is designed to ensure welfare standards equivalent to those expected in specialist zoological collections.

This includes strict conditions relating to:

• Minimum enclosure size
• Environmental complexity
• Social housing
• Veterinary planning
• Feeding regimes
• Record keeping

Marmosets are callitrichids. Government guidance sets minimum enclosure sizes for two or three individuals at:

3 metres wide
4.5 metres long
3 metres high

These measurements represent usable space and are the starting point, not a luxury standard.

Height is critical. Marmosets are arboreal and depend on vertical movement for physical and psychological wellbeing.

Worm has reached a meaningful milestone in his rehabilitation journey at APES Shelter.

When he first arrived, he required careful cleaning and supportive care. This week, our team successfully bathed him, gently removing dried urine and faeces from his coat. It was a delicate process that required patience, calm handling, and close monitoring.

At first, Worm looked very sorry for himself.

Fresh from his bath, he resembled a tiny drowned rat and was not entirely impressed with us. Rehabilitation can be undignified at times, but cleanliness is essential for skin health, comfort, and recovery.

Why Hygiene Matters in Primate Rehabilitation

• Clean fur reduces the risk of skin infection
• It supports healthy temperature regulation
• It allows accurate health and behavioural assessment
• It restores dignity and comfort during recovery

Our position is clear. Best practice in primate rehabilitation requires thorough hygiene management delivered with compassion, structured oversight, and welfare first handling.

Then came a turning point.

Worm was offered his first Dubai roach since entering our care. His response was immediate. Curiosity returned. Energy lifted. Appetite is one of the strongest indicators of improving health in primates during rehabilitation, and seeing him engage so enthusiastically was a powerful moment for the team.

Once feeding was complete, it was time to dry off properly.

Worm quickly demonstrated just how comfortable he was feeling. Perhaps a little too comfortable if you ask us.

As you can see from the video below, he discovered the radiator and made himself entirely at home. Warmth plays a role in comfort and energy conservation for primates recovering from neglect. Controlled heating within a supervised environment supports wellbeing during early stages of care.

Primates have complex behavioural, social, and environmental needs. Inadequate housing, poor hygiene, and inappropriate nutrition can quickly lead to distress, health complications, and behavioural suppression.

At APES Shelter, our rehabilitation approach prioritises dignity, enrichment, environmental stability, and welfare led handling practices. Responsible ownership of primates requires specialist knowledge, lawful compliance, and long term commitment.

Primates are highly intelligent, social animals with intricate behavioural needs. Caring for them responsibly requires:

• Purpose-built, secure enclosures

• Species-appropriate nutrition

• Daily enrichment and stimulation

• Specialist veterinary oversight

• Experienced, trained caregivers

This level of care is ongoing and resource-intensive. As a non-profit rescue, we rely on the generosity of compassionate supporters to ensure every primate receives the welfare standards they deserve.

Sponsorship provides predictable funding that helps us plan long-term care with confidence.

Your sponsorship directly contributes to:

🥕 Nutrition & Special Diets

Fresh fruit, vegetables, forage items and species-specific dietary needs.

🧩 Enrichment & Mental Stimulation

Climbing structures, puzzle feeders, sensory enrichment and habitat improvements that promote natural behaviours.

🏡 Safe Sanctuary Living

Maintenance of secure, enriched enclosures and safe social housing arrangements.

🩺 Veterinary & Preventative Care

Routine health checks and welfare monitoring (always overseen by qualified veterinary professionals).

When you sponsor one of our primates, you become part of their lifelong care journey. Sponsors receive:

• A personalised sponsorship certificate

• A welcome pack introducing your chosen primate

• Regular updates about their progress and wellbeing

• The knowledge that you are directly improving their quality of life

It’s a meaningful gift for yourself or for someone who cares deeply about animal welfare.

At APES Shelter & Rescue, we are committed to:

• ❌ Never breeding primates

• ❌ Never selling or trading animals

• ❌ Discouraging private primate ownership

• ✅ Promoting education and responsible animal welfare

Sponsorship is not about “owning” or handling a monkey. It’s about supporting lifelong sanctuary care in a safe, regulated environment.

Across the UK, we continue to see the consequences of exotic animals being kept without the specialist knowledge and resources they require. Primates are not suitable pets, they have complex needs that most domestic environments simply cannot meet.

By sponsoring a primate, you help:

• Reduce suffering caused by inappropriate ownership

• Provide a stable, enriched life for rescued individuals

• Support public education around responsible exotic animal care

• Strengthen long-term sanctuary capacity

Becoming a sponsor is simple and can be set up as a monthly or annual contribution.

Every sponsorship helps secure food, enrichment, housing and specialist care, not just today, but for years to come.

👉 Sponsor a primate today and become part of their second chance story.

Visit: https://www.apesshelter.org.uk/sponsor-our-primates

Can I visit the primate I sponsor?

For welfare and biosecurity reasons, visits are limited and carefully managed. The safety and wellbeing of our animals always comes first.

Does my sponsorship fund one specific animal?

Your sponsorship symbolically supports your chosen primate, but contributions help cover overall sanctuary costs to ensure all residents receive consistent, high-quality care.

Is this suitable as a gift?

Yes, sponsorship makes a thoughtful, welfare-focused gift for animal lovers.

Sanctuary care is a lifelong commitment. With your support, we can continue providing safe, enriched environments for primates who deserve stability, dignity and compassionate care.

Together, we can ensure their past does not define their future.

Sponsor today. Protect tomorrow.