Primates, other potentially dangerous animals, don't make good pets

February 24, 2009
By Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Chairman Rodney Barreto

A violent attack on a woman in Connecticut last week by a 200-pound pet chimpanzee has sparked renewed nationwide debate about exotic animals as pets.

The Feb. 16 attack left a 55-year-old woman in critical condition with "life-altering" injuries to her face and hands.

The case is a sobering reminder that no matter how well the owner treats, or bonds with, a Class One (potentially very dangerous) animal, its instincts will take over at some point, and it will behave like the wild animal it is, and it can pose a threat to people. These are, after all, huge, strong, wild animals with sharp teeth.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which licenses and monitors ownership of exotic species, reminds people to be cautious around wild animals and to do their homework regarding state regulations, here and elsewhere.

People can go to the FWC's Web site, MyFWC.com, and click on "Ask FWC" to learn more about regulations governing Class One animals and other captive wildlife. Those who live in the same neighborhoods as captive chimpanzees, lions or other potentially dangerous animals should make sure the owners' permits are in order.

Florida banned possession of primates as pets in 1980. Florida authorities recognized the need for the prohibition after a series of attacks here during the 1970s. However, there are still many exotic pets in this state, particularly in Southwest Florida. A handful of people who owned Class One animals before the law took effect still have permits for their pet chimpanzees, tigers, lions and others. As the pets die, the state revokes the licenses to possess such animals.

Nineteen other states and the District of Columbia have similar laws on the books, but efforts to pass a federal law, in the wake of two chimps mauling a California man, have stalled since 2005.
It's a good thing that news media have recently published stories and editorials about exotic pets – where they are, what to do if one is nearby and where they are prohibited.

Sanctuaries in Florida are allowed to have primates. A monkey given up by a Minnesota owner and transferred to a Gainesville facility had attacked the woman's two daughters. She described the monkeys as "unpredictable" and said they have attitude problems. That's a typical reaction of individuals who took in such pets without a thorough understanding of the animals' needs or the instincts that drive them.

Meanwhile, people across the country should think twice about whether they want to share space with a chimpanzee or other animal that is quite capable of injuring or killing a human being.