Monkeys are smart, complex and emotional creatures with basic emotions that include love, jealousy, anger and frustration. They can be very destructive and very messy and have the potential to injure or kill other people, pets and animals. They can also become aggressive if they feel that they are being threatened. Many mature monkeys have teeth and claws and can lash out at family members, friends and strangers. Monkeys can be very expensive to maintain as they require yearly veterinarian checkups including tuberculosis testing, possible viral testing, vaccinations and blood work which can cost hundreds of dollars.
Most monkeys used for entertainment are kept in tiny cages and denied the opportunity to engage in natural types of behavior. They are denied psychological and social stimulation, adequate exercise and are deprived of the opportunity to interact with their mates or raise their young. Many exhibit neurotic behaviors such as pacing, rocking, swaying, cage biting, self-mutilation and depression. This type of life is extremely stressful for monkeys.
In the wild, monkeys are omnivorous and eat fruits, nuts, leaves, flowers, vegetables, bark, roots, rodents, birds, invertebrates and other insects. Monkeys are vulnerable to extinction worldwide as their habitat is destroyed and they are hunted for bushmeat and traditional medicine. They are also captured and sold as pets for the global pet trade. Once a monkey loses its adoptive home it often ends up in overcrowded and deplorable “sanctuaries” and havens, being bulk-loaded into roadside carnivals and flea markets. The unfortunate reality is that most monkeys eventually die from lack of food, starvation, stress and aggression in these overcrowded facilities or in the wild due to predation, old age or injury.