Social Media Glamorizes Monkey Ownership–Then It Turns Bad

Social media often presents a false image of the pet’s actual needs and the reality of their temperament, leading to a slew of abandonments, critics say.

Illustration by The Epoch Times, Shutterstock

The global trade in pet monkeys and other primates is being mainly driven by greed and social media, according to wildlife protection advocate Nina Plail.

It’s a familiar pattern: People see a warm and fuzzy baby primate online and decide they want one for a pet. Wild baby monkeys are “adorable,” Ms. Plail said, but their cuteness fades as they grow older and become aggressive.