By Lucy Radford | Engagement Manager
One part of the illegal wildlife trade which can particularly affect orangutans is the pet trade. Orangutans are extremely endearing and many people don't realise why keeping them as pets is damaging for the individual orangutans' welfare and the species' conservation.
Unlike dogs and cats, which have lived alongside humans for many centuries, primates like orangutans are not (and cannot be) domesticated, so they suffer extreme stress when living with humans. This can manifest itself as biting themselves or the people they live with, pulling out their own hair, developing repetitive behaviours such as rocking, and becoming destructive in general.
There is also a huge risk of disease transmission between humans and primates, as we are genetically very closely related. Coughs, colds, flu, coronavirus and even tuberculosis or hepatitis can easily spread when primates are kept in the home, presenting a serious risk to people as well as animals.
Luckily, there are many people, including the wildlife crime team you help support, working to spread awareness about these risks and take legal action against people selling orangutans and other primates into the pet trade.
Thank you for being part of this work.
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By Lucy Radford | Engagement Manager
By Lucy Radford | Engagement Manager
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