Primate welfare through education and responsibility
APES Primate Welfare and Education protects primates through clear, welfare focused information. We do not endorse primates being kept as pets. Primates are complex, socially driven animals whose needs are extremely difficult to meet in private homes. However, because primates continue to be kept under UK law and sometimes outside it, access to reliable welfare education is essential to reduce suffering.
Care and welfare resources
Built for prevention, harm reduction, and welfare improvement. If primates are being kept, welfare must be addressed properly, not improvised.
Behaviour and psychological welfare
Learn what normal behaviour can look like, how stress presents, and why isolation, boredom, and instability can rapidly undermine welfare.
Environment and enrichment
Guidance on space, complexity, climbing opportunities, safe substrates, and daily enrichment that supports natural behaviours and reduces harm.
Nutrition, sunlight, and health risk
Understand nutritional risk, the importance of appropriate light exposure, and common welfare failures seen in privately kept primates.
Welfare reality check
Sanctuaries repeatedly see the same welfare patterns when primates are kept in inappropriate private settings. Monkey World has documented significant rescue demand from the UK pet trade, including many marmosets, with animals arriving with physical and psychological harm.
Complex needs, simple setups
Primates require specialised environments, social structure, and continuous enrichment. When these are missing, welfare declines fast.
Diet and health consequences
Poor diet and inadequate husbandry can lead to long term health problems. Welfare issues are often invisible until they become severe.
Psychological harm
Isolation, chronic stress, and unsuitable housing can contribute to serious behavioural and psychological issues. Prevention is always better than rescue.
UK law changes in England
From 6 April 2026, privately keeping a primate in England will require a local authority licence and compliance with strict welfare conditions. The licensing regime is set out in the Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 and related guidance.
Licence required from 6 April 2026
If a primate is kept privately in England on or after 6 April 2026, it must be under an appropriate licence unless covered by a zoo licence or scientific procedures licence.
Zoo level welfare standards
The intent is to ensure primates are only kept in environments capable of meeting complex welfare needs. For many private settings, meeting these standards may be difficult without significant change.
Illegal keeping risk
Primates may still be kept by some people without meeting legal requirements. This increases welfare risk, reduces oversight, and can lead to sudden crisis situations for the animal.
What APES recommends
We do not endorse primate ownership. If you are currently keeping a primate, do not wait until enforcement begins. Review the licensing guidance, assess your setup honestly, and prioritise welfare improvements immediately.
Tools and practical support
Use structured tools to identify welfare risk early and plan improvements that protect the animal.
Welfare review checklist
Run a structured welfare review regularly to identify risk and track improvement.
Enrichment planner
Plan varied enrichment that supports natural behaviours and reduces stress.
Early warning signs guide
Recognise indicators of welfare compromise so action can be taken early.
Our welfare position
APES does not endorse primates being kept as pets. Primates are not domesticated animals and their social, emotional, and environmental needs are exceptionally complex.
However, because primates are still kept under current UK law and sometimes outside it, we provide welfare education to reduce suffering, support harm reduction, and encourage responsible, welfare first decisions.
Education protects animals. Knowledge prevents suffering.
Start with welfare, stay with welfare
Explore APES resources and tools designed to protect primates, reduce preventable harm, and improve welfare outcomes.
