There are dozens of privately owned marmosets in Australia just as there are hundreds of privately owned Baboons, macaques etc. You seem surprised but don't forget there are dozens of privately owned primates, there are also privately owned tigers, lions and even elephants ( 6 elephants are currently owned by private individuals in Australia, it's only because 4 of these are on public display that you wouldn't find it so surprising)
Also it was legal to keep macaques, capuchins, spider monkeys and marmosets as pets in NSW up until 1998. People that owned animals were allowed to keep them provided they did not breed them. so I think you would be surprised. There are some monkeys out there.
Anyway. does this mean the hotel, the savannah and the everglades will now not be seen fo quite some time? Someone asked earlier what about the rhino and other animals out back? From the photos I've seen these animals are all in display worthy enclosures, I think it's other infrastructure to those sections that has not yet been completed.
Yes l am suprised. My zoo contacts have always been stronger in Europe and USA than in Australia. Due to some behaviour of mine in my late teens that l do-not regret! So how do l get a marmoset?
Hahaha. . I don't know Victoria's laws but now in NSW, with alot of difficulty. Private individuals can't keep any primate that is not on public display unless it was owned by them prior to 1998.
Exactly Jay - there are in fact very few primates in private hands in Australia that are not in privately-owned zoos or ex-circus animals (e.g. Bullens animals in western Sydney). There is also a group of common marmosets owned by CSIRO in South Australia.
Back in the 1960's and '70's rhesus macaques used to advertised occasionally in the classified section of The Age and the Weekly Times, and I had a friend who purchased one in the early '90s. I'm sure the Vertebrate Pests Act put an end to any trade, though. I've never heard of marmosets in private (ie personal) hands, although I believe they are in various research institutions and universities. The group of 15 sounds like a research group to me. Michael Johnson Moonlit-Sanctuary -
That group ahs been moved to monash. It's called the National Marmoset Colony was moved to the national macaque colony. There is also the national Baboon colony in NSW these are governed by NHMRC. There are also the elephants and monkeys that belong to the perry's which do not travel with the show.
Not by along shot - it simply drove the trade underground. You would be staggered at the number of macaques in "private hands" - not private zoos or ex-circus animals. Beats me why anyone would want one as a "pet"! Haven't heard of too many marmosets in private hands though.
I was told of at least six macaques in private hands. The only "privately owned" marmosets I know of are in zoos or research facilites. That is they are not in government zoos.
By ex-circus do you mean animals in circus families that have retired or the private Primates around held on circus permits? Not to mention the primates that are around but not legally.
I know of one person with more than six!! The number "out there" is unbelievable and they have a communication network that is very efficient so they can keep breeding more. It's not on the same scale as the illegal reptiles [some people are into both] but it's pretty damn scary.
Wow. . . didn't think it was that large. I'm surprised this is not as well known as the reptile trade. you'd think a neighbour would be more likely to notice a monkey than an exotic python or lizrad.
Hey Jarkari; when you mention the National Baboon Colony in NSW; they wouldn't be located anywhere near State Parliament, would they?
If one wishes to regulate the trade ever, one requires 3 components: a) effective border controls and trained staff to identify taxa b) effective penalties for illegal capture and maintenance c) effective confiscation procedures and relocation programme for the confiscated stocks d) regulation in-house and inland regarding private management and maintenance of wildlife and plants. None of those issues are effectively met within Australia under Biosecurity guidelines (I left out the vet health issues as these are over-met out there). I find it particularly sad and disheartening that any confiscated stocks of endangered or any other taxa are nowadays routinely euthanised and not relocated into breeding programmes or zoos or quarantaine/holding facilities. If I were the judge of this procedure I would term it a crime against mankind (as custodians of our Earth). Now, all my fellow - well loved - Aussies posters may fall over my comments in the thread - pse be advised it is not personal - it is face-value, no-nonsense criticism of the present situation at your shores.
In case anyone, stumbling upon this thread for the first time, is becoming confused - it should be pointed out that none of this discussion now has anything to do with Australia Zoo as the thread title would suggest! Maybe a new thread please Moderators???
