On Monday, the Born Free USA team was gearing up to welcome a new resident to our Primate Sanctuary in south Texas; a rhesus macaque named Dawkins, who was being retired from research into our care. We were looking forward to meeting Dawkins, getting to know his unique personality and preferences, and introducing him to a brand new life at the Sanctuary; a life that would be as close as possible to the wild and rich with opportunities to explore nature, play, climb, forage, and socialize. Earlier this month, we took in two other primates, Oscar and Creed, and we have been enjoying watching them get accustomed to their new, more natural life. (We even saw Oscar and Creed grooming each other, which is a major social milestone!)
As our staff arrived at the San Antonio Airport to collect Dawkins, they received the news that he had somehow broken free from his travel crate and was in the cargo area of the airport. Our Sanctuary Director, Tim Ajax (with airport authorities), acted quickly to contain Dawkins and to ensure that neither Dawkins nor any bystanders were in danger. Happily, the situation was quickly brought under control and Dawkins began the final drive to his new Sanctuary home, where he is now doing well and settling in, exploring his new environment and demonstrating no ill effects from Monday’s airport hiccup.
News reports abounded with the story of the escaped “baboon” (incorrect – Dawkins is a rhesus macaque) who was “loose” at the airport. That might have been what caught everyone’s attention, but the true “story” here is about the dangers of keeping wild animals, like monkeys, in captivity.
Millions of wild animals are held in captivity in the United States. These animals include those in facilities such as roadside zoos, circuses, and aquariums; those kept in private possession, as “pets”; and animals used in interactive displays, such as for photo ops and rides. Many of these animals languish in conditions that fail to meet their instinctive behavioral and physical needs and which often create stress and danger, for the captive animals and humans alike.
As wild animals, monkeys’ natural behaviors and instincts are best suited for life in the wild. When they are put in unnatural conditions and situations – for instance, at an airport or in a private home – they can become stressed and unpredictable, and, if they feel threatened, they may react. Thankfully, neither Dawkins nor any member of the public was injured, but Born Free USA’s Exotic Animal Incidents Database is full of stories with tragic outcomes, in which captive primates – and other captive wild animals – were hurt or killed, or caused injury.
It is a honor for us to be able to welcome Dawkins to our Sanctuary, but we hope that one day, sanctuaries like ours will not be necessary because wild animals like Dawkins will no longer be taken from the wild or bred for a life in captivity.
Keep Wildlife in the Wild,
