Care of primates

Extract

Primate Care is a guide for those who either keep or plan to keep primates in their care. As the authors point out in the introduction, primates generally do not make good pets. They are wild animals, and as such can be aggressive, destructive and even dangerous. Indeed, in the UK it is necessary to have a licence under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act in order to keep any monkeys other than marmosets as pets. However, if monkeys are to be kept as pets then their owners should be both forewarned of the difficulties and have access to information on good housing and care. The handbook certainly warns of the problems, and is a source of easily accessible basic information. It includes chapters on New and Old World primates, housing, enrichment, reproduction, nutrition, health and socialization. It also provides a useful address list of suppliers of information, enrichment devices and diets. The layout is friendly and varied, with abundant illustrations. This is a publication that will be useful for shelters that take primates, those who keep primates as pets, and might find a place on the bookshelves of the laboratory animal technician.