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Captive Primate Safety Act - National Humane Education Society

Update: This article has been modified on March 7, 2023. See changes below.

Paws Up! To Representative Earl Blumenauer for introducing the Captive Primate Safety Act.


January 24, 2023

Representative Earl Blumenauer introduced H.R. 3135: Captive Primate Safety Act on May 21, 2021. This bill was incorporated into H.R. 263: Big Cat Public Safety Act on December 20, 2022. Sadly, the Captive Primate Safety Act did not pass.

The Captive Primate Safety Act is an amendment to the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981. The most recent amendments prohibit interstate commerce of any prohibited primate species. The amendments also end importation, exportation, transportation, sale, receipt, acquisition, and purchase. They also ban the possession of any prohibited primate species.

Primates are highly intelligent animals that are typically social with other primates. They have no business being someone’s pet, and there is no way to replicate their environment in a person’s home.  They also can pose a considerable safety risk. The prohibited primate species list includes chimpanzees, galagos, gibbons, gorillas, lemurs, lorises, monkeys, orangutans, tarsiers, or any hybrid of such species.

H.R. 3135 does not apply to exhibiting animals under a Class C license. No individual should come in direct contact with a prohibited primate species unless they are a trained professional employee, licensed veterinarian, or are directly supporting conservation programs. They must also ensure that during public exhibitions of any prohibited primate species, except lemurs and galagos, the animal is at least 15 feet from members of the public. A permanent barrier to prevent public contact with the animal would also suffice.

Even though some identical provisions from the Captive Primate Safety Act were incorporated into the Big Cat Public Safety Act, it did not pass, and primates received no added protection. However, primates desperately still need this protection, so they no longer have to live unenriched lives as someone’s pet. The reintroduction of this bill is crucial for the future of primates.

Primates need your help! Please urge your local representatives to reintroduce similar legislation today!

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One response to “Captive Primate Safety Act”

  1. Diana Lewis says:

    Thank you for supporting the Captive Primate Safety Act!

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