There’s no humane way to capture a baby primate from the wild.

Despite serious animal welfare and safety concerns, the cruel and dangerous trade in “pet” primates remains active in the U.S. and around the world. But a bipartisan bill now making its way through Congress would protect primates from the cruel and destructive exotic pet trade by prohibiting the private possession, breeding, and trade of nonhuman primates outside of qualified facilities—protecting animals, people, and public health.

Send a pre-drafted letter to your representatives right away and urge them to support the Captive Primate Safety Act (CPSA).

We must create the momentum needed to pass this bill into law—because right now, countless animals are facing heartbreaking abuse as part of the illegal wildlife trade. Just weeks ago, authorities in Mexico discovered four helpless baby spider monkeys bound and hidden in sacks along a remote stretch of train tracks—all of them brutally captured to fuel the trade, potentially destined for the US. Malnourished and dehydrated, they’ll now need around-the-clock care to survive and eventually return to the wild where they belong.

These spider monkeys—just like chimpanzees, lemurs, gibbons, and other primates often targeted by traffickers—are wild animals, not pets. They are intelligent, sensitive, and social beings with complex needs that no private home can meet.

Kept in isolation, many suffer from psychological trauma and physical neglect. Others endure painful or misguided attempts to “tame” them. This isn’t just harmful to the animals; it also puts people and communities at risk.

The “pet” primate trade also drives international wildlife trafficking, pushing wild populations toward extinction.

If we act now, we can help protect more primates from being ripped from their wild homes and exploited for profit. Add your name to our pre-drafted letter now and tell Congress to keep vulnerable primates safe.

Thank you for your support for primates and all victims of the illegal wildlife trade.