Where can you buy a pet monkey in the UK?

Answer 1

A lot of monkeys are threatened or endangered, so keeping pet monkeys is actually illegal now unless you move to Bali, Thailand, etc. Also, monkeys may look fun, but they're not a baby for long and they get hard to handle and even if it seemed to love you like you love it, they have huge fang teeth and the bite could get you into hospital.

Answer 2

Exotic breeders.
But it is not as simple as just walking up to one and buying a monkey. There are strict laws and regulations.

However bear in mind that the keeping of primates such as monkeys will very likely be illegal in the UK in the future due to a new law that is being petitioned and discussed by the RSPCA, the UK's animal authority.


Monkeys require expert knowledge in primates and primate behaviour. They are not just like keeping a dog or a cat, they are extremely specialist. Nobody will sell you a monkey without the proper qualifications to care for one, otherwise it negatively affects their business.
You also need to know the Animal Welfare Act and other relevant laws.
If you have to ask this question, then it is clear you lack the knowledge required to care for monkeys.

Some species of monkey require you to have a licence to keep. Having a pet monkey without a licence can result in a hefty fine and a ban from keeping animals for life. And you won't get a license unless you can prove you have the knowledge required to care for such a specialist animal.
Acquiring a monkey illegally, for example through smuggling, will result in a long prison sentence and a ban from keeping animals for life (apart from the fact that smuggled animals almost always die from stress).

Aside from that, it is considered cruel to keep a primate as a household pet. These are extremely intelligent creatures and they are social creatures. They live in groups and thrive in groups. When alone and when "forced" to stay in a household, they are not getting their required social activity from other monkeys, which can lead to depression. Which is an act of cruelty. No animal was born to live in a prison-like environment.

I wouldn't get your hopes up about purchasing a pet monkey. It'll likely be illegal soon, so the RSPCA will confiscate it from you in the future and place it in a zoo.

Consider taking a degree in zoology and then seeking a job in a zoo, if you want to be close to monkeys. A zoo is a better place for a monkey than a household, because they get specialist care, the social needs they require, the correct diet and they have plenty of free space to roam.


Further Reading:

• Primates as pets via the RSPCA website (including information on making it illegal)
• Animal Welfare Act
• Wildlife and animal laws
• Animal Welfare Legislation
  
• Licences to keep exotic or wild animals