01/09/2026
It's International Primate Day!
Today, we'll be highlighting some of our most compromised primates, new primates, and the realities of the exotic pet trade, starting with Japanese snow macaque Leo.
Like human newborns, primate infants rely solely on their mothers for the first few months of life, then slowly become more independent. In the wild, depending on the species, they would spend anywhere from 2-8 years with their moms, learning everything about survival. In the exotic pet trade, infants are ripped away from their moms almost immediately so the new owners can become the "mom" to the newborn.
Leo was in the hands of his new owner at 3 days old. Three. Days. Old.
Like most "pet" monkeys, he was treated like a human infant. Swaddled. Diaper changes. Bottle fed. Stroller rides. Although loved, how did any of this benefit Leo? The reality is it didn't and it greatly harmed him.
Leo likely didn't get colostrum (the first milk produced that is antibiotic dense), which leads to a weakened immune system. Then, he grows up and starts eating solids. "Pet" primates tend to eat whatever is being fed to the family, which can lead to metabolic disorders. In the picture, notice how Leo's fingers and toes are curled into balls? He can't physically straighten them out. This is due to metabolic bone disease. These are just some of the physical ramifications of being ripped away from his mom.
Now, let's talk about the psychological effects. "Pet" primates are typically in a world of isolation, especially once they become naturally aggressive. As social animals, this is incredibly harmful to their psyche. They're not learning how to play with others, learning social cues, how to engage appropriately with others...all things they'd learn from their mom. Leo arrived at 3 years old and already had negative stereotypic behaviors. It's been 4 years, he's lived with two other monkeys, and he still has no idea how to communicate or behave appropriately with them. Honestly, very few of ours do.
The reality is "pet" primates are set up for failure, and it's up to each of us to advocate for all of the babies, like Leo, who deserve better!
