Pet monkeys hit by 'lifestye' obesity epidemic

BRITAIN: Britain's pet monkeys are suffering from an obesity epidemic, caused by their couch potato lifestyle  First it was Britain’s human population, then its cats and dogs. Now, it seems that even the country’s pet monkeys have succumbed to an obesity epidemic.  Animal welfare experts have warned that growing numbers of primates are facing problems with their weight, as a result of sugar-rich diets and lack of exercise.

There are an estimated 5,000 monkeys kept as pets in the UK. But welfare experts report seeing an increasing number of health problems among the animals, apparently caused by unhealthy lifestyles.  Staff at sanctuaries devoted to caring for primates say they are dealing with many former pets being handed over to them suffering from the effects of “couch potato” lifestyles, where they have been indulged on unsuitable human foods and not given enough exercise.

Jean Smith, who runs the Yorkshire Monkey Sanctuary, said: “We have had them too fat to move sometimes. It is just a question of the wrong diet. They are fed on things like sweets, pizza, chips and cake - whatever their owner is eating. And many don’t have enclosures large enough to run it all off.”
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