We co-hosted a screening of Chimp Crazy for Congress to educate lawmakers and staff about the heart-wrenching cruelty of the “pet” primate trade.
Shockingly, it’s still legal to keep nonhuman primates as “pets” under federal law. While importing nonhuman primates into the US for the pet trade is illegal, breeders churn out a steady supply of baby animals. People can easily buy a monkey or lemur online to keep them as ‘pets’ or social media props. The Captive Primate Safety Act, recently reintroduced in Congress, would ban the private possession of nonhuman primates and provide critical protection for tens of thousands of animals who endure egregious cruelty.
“Chimp Crazy” in Congress
We joined forces with the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Welfare Institute, Born Free USA, Friends of Animals, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and Lincoln Park Zoo to host a Congressional screening of Chimp Crazy*, the new HBO Max docuseries from the filmmakers who brought us Tiger King.
Chimp Crazy tells the harrowing story of Tonka, a chimpanzee exploited by Hollywood and as a “pet,” and other chimpanzees whose stories didn’t end so happily (Tonka is now living his best life at a sanctuary).
Our message to Congress was clear–nonhuman primates never belong in our homes.
Protect Nonhuman Primates From Exploitation
Help us keep up the pressure! Tell your representatives to co-sponsor the Captive Primate Safety Act.
*The word “crazy” does not align with World Animal Protection’s values and is used here only to identify the film.