Buying a Monkey As a Pet

Monkeys are highly social, intelligent animals that can learn a great deal about their environment and even people. They can be difficult pets to care for because of their need for extensive mental and physical stimulation, and because they can easily transmit zoonotic diseases to humans, including herpes B and hepatitis C. They can also have a tendency to develop destructive behaviors.

Monkeys usually live together in a troop, a group of related animals that includes females and males. Monkeys may have a variety of troop structures; some are all-female, while others, like marmosets and tamarins, typically live in one-male groups in which the dominant male has access to all of the females for mating. In some cases, the male leader has to fight other males to maintain his reign.

While some monkeys spend time on the ground, most are arboreal. They have five digits on their hands and feet (including a big toe), and eat a wide range of foods, from fruit to insects to roots. They are diurnal, active during the daytime, and change sleeping sites regularly.

Some monkey species are very endangered, and it is illegal in many places to keep monkeys as pets. If you decide to get a monkey, you should work with a USDA-licensed breeder and buy a young, healthy animal. It’s important to ask a lot of questions, and you should be willing to take the time to verify that the breeder is legitimate.