A common marmoset monkey has been rescued following a joint council investigation, which found the primate living in poor welfare conditions and kept without a licence at a house in Greenwich.
Following a report from a concerned resident, officers from the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the City of London Corporation* discovered the monkey living in a bird cage, which is an unsuitable environment for a primate. He was not being fed an appropriate diet and lived alone - primates need companionship within their species to live a happy life. The owner also did not have a licence to keep the animal.
Another visit then took place with officers from the council and City Corporation’s licensing and animal welfare teams, alongside the RSPCA and the Metropolitan Police. The unlicensed primate keeper agreed to voluntarily give up the marmoset. The monkey has now been transferred to a specialist facility to receive veterinary treatment; he will then be taken to a new home in a wildlife park to live with other marmosets.
The individual keeping the primate without a licence received a warning.
Primates need specialist care and shouldn’t be kept as household pets. Anyone who owns an exotic animal needs to comply with the Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Failing to have the necessary licence or not looking after primates properly may result in a criminal offence. Find out more about primate licensing on the government’s website.
If you are aware or suspect that a primate is being kept without a licence or have any other animal welfare concerns, contact us on licensing@royalgreenwich.gov.uk. Early reporting can help us protect animals and ensure that they receive the specialist care that they need.
*The City of London Corporation provides regulatory animal health services for many London boroughs and councils across England.