Charity’s Disappointment as Prime Minister Back Tracks on Statement
Following his visit to Cornwall on the 9th July, and being asked by Wild Futures campaign staff what his government intended to do on the issue of primates as pets in the UK, the charity’s staff were deflated today at the PM’s formal, and somewhat overdue, response. Having stated that he believes that Wild Futures’ call to end the trade in primates as pets in the UK offered a “very strong argument” back in July, it would appear that the Prime Minister has back-tracked on his response as the formal letter from Number 10 said that “the Government does not believe that a regulatory regime is necessary”.
Rachel Hevesi, of Wild Futures said: “Not only are we disappointed that, following such a positive reaction to the question posed by our campaign staff at the reception in Newquay, we are disheartened that the formal letter of response from the Prime Minister’s office simply outlined the current legislation in place and made particular reference to a code of practice for the protection of captive primates. What the Prime Minister perhaps hasn’t realised is that our charity was instrumental in writing that very code, having acted as the expert advisors to the RSPCA throughout the three-year process from its inception to its implementation.
The code and all the literature pertaining to it was also sent to him following the reception to allow an informed response so we were a little surprised to have our own work outlined for us in the PM’s response. On a more positive note, the letter does state that it is important to assess whether the 2006 Animal Welfare Act and the Code of Practice have a positive effect. We will be contacting the Prime Minister again to find out when and how this assessment will be carried out, and if we can be of any assistance in the monitoring.
We know that the Mr Cameron is holidaying with his family in Cornwall at present and we would be delighted to welcome him here at our flagship project, The Monkey Sanctuary, if he would like to find out more about our work”.
Notes to Editors: Wild Futures (Charity reg. No. 1102532) is an educational and environmental charity promoting the welfare and conservation of primates, and working to end the abuses of primates in captivity. Its flagship project, The Monkey Sanctuary, in Cornwall, is home to victims of the primate pet trade. Drawing on over 40 years of primate expertise, Wild Futures acts as an advisory body to sanctuaries and conservation organisations in the UK and overseas and advises DEFRA on UK animal welfare legislation.
Question posed to the Mr. Cameron: “Conservationists, primatologists (including the membership of the International Primatological Society) and nearly 80% of the British public agree that primates are unsuitable to be kept as pets due to conservation implications, animal welfare implications and human health and safety concerns. It is still legal in the UK for primates to be kept as pets and current legislation is insufficient to ensure their welfare. What does the Government propose to do about this?”
*The code can be found by visiting: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/cruelty/documents/primate-cop.pdf
For more information please contact:
Rachel Hevesi
www.wildfutures.org
+44 (0) 1503 262 532