Mistreated monkeys 'fed fast food and left in dirt and squalor'

In the past five years, 18 complaints about the welfare of monkeys in the region have been made to the RSPCA.

An estimated 5,000 primates are being kept as pets up and down the UK - such as marmosets, capuchins and squirrel monkeys.

But new data suggests that many are suffering and not having vital social, dietary and environmental needs met.

Eleven complaints were made over the animals' welfare in Staffordshire, and seven were made in the West Midlands over the past five years.

In the Black Country one primate victim of the pet trade ended up with rickets, leaving him unable to climb due to negligence by the owners.

Mikey the marmoset had rickets and was handed over in a hamster cage by his breeders in Stourbridge to his new owners.

His new owner soon realised he was unwell and took him to the RSPCA. He had seven fractures throughout his body, and his condition was so severe, he had to be put down to end his suffering.

The couple that bred him were banned from keeping animals for life.

RSPCA senior scientific officer Dr Ros Clubb, said: "The level of calls we are getting just shows the number of primates that are out there are increasing - and at an alarming level.

"The spread of calls across the country is real cause for concern too.

"Sadly our inspectors have seen situations where monkeys have been cooped up in bird cages, fed fast food and sugary drinks, deprived of friends of their own kind, living in dirt squalor and suffering from disease.

"We fear there are hundreds more that are suffering behind closed doors because people do not know how to look after these animals properly."

She added: "We have joined forces with Born Free Foundation, British Veterinary Association (BVA), Captive Animal Protection Society, Four Paws, One Kind and Wild Futures to push for a ban on keeping primates as pets.

"We are all so concerned about the situation of primates being kept as pets in the UK.

"The trend for keeping primates is on the up - but because of the specific needs of these animals their level of suffering is extreme.

"As well as dietary and environmental needs primates are highly social animals and they have extremely complex behavioural and social needs - but sadly in many cases they are being kept as lone primates."

Marmosets, capuchins and squirrel monkeys are just some of the primates being kept as pets and rescue groups such as the RSPCA and Wild Futures receive approximately one call every three days relating to the welfare of a monkey.

To sign a petition to supporting the welfare of primates visit www.protectprimates.org.