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| Sunday, 2 January 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Monkey talk 'A pet monkey could prove to be a handful because it needs a lot of attention
These animals are not only highly intelligent, but also emotionally complex and need to be around their own kind to develop normally. Some of you may already be having a monkey as a pet or planning to have one in the future and if so, there are important facts you need to know. Having a pet monkey is a long term commitment. A significant amount of time is required just for routine care and cleaning up. But more importantly, a monkey needs a large amount of social interaction and attention from the owner. The sweet, baby monkey will grow up and become the wild animal it was meant to be. Unfortunately, raising a monkey around humans doesn't much change its wild nature. It has been said that all monkeys bite. They have different personalities, so one cannot generalise. Some monkeys will be very aggressive and others will be more docile. Nevertheless, monkeys are unpredictable and may turn aggressive towards anyone, including the person to whom they are the closest. If you still want to have one, make sure the monkey is healthy. It is important to take your monkey for check-ups once in a while, to a vet. If you are planning to cage the monkey, make sure the cage is constructed of strong material, because these animals are agile and have very nimble fingers. Escaping from a cage is an easy task for them. The cage needs to be big. The bigger the better. These animals feel secure in a high cage. The floor of the cage could be made of cement for easy cleaning and disinfecting . Variety is an important key to feeding a monkey. You could include fruits, cooked vegetables like carrots, raw vegetables, seeds, nuts, wheat, bread and boiled eggs. This might sound a bit awful, but if you can, feed the monkey insects like crickets, grasshoppers and mealworms. And don't forget to supplement its diet with primate vitamin mixes. Sprinkle the vitamin mix over the food. You also have to remember that monkeys love to splash and play. Monkeys, like children, can get into a lot of mischief and mess around with anything. Keep medicines, poisons, anything that is generally dangerous to a child, out of reach of your pet monkey . These could be more dangerous to a monkey because you will not know what it has taken or eaten.You must keep your pet monkey away from all strangers. Monkeys do not adapt well to new situations. Don't forget that monkeys bite. In an attempt to establish dominance, monkeys may even attack their human family members. As pets grow older, stronger and more unpredictable, some owners may attempt to change the animal's natural behaviour. This is not a very healthy situation.Although they are adorable, monkeys may not take well to new people in your life and make it hard for you to get away for vacations. Finding a new home for a monkey is extremely difficult and will be very hard on this lovely animal, which bonds strongly with its owner. So, if you are planning to have a pet monkey, think carefully. And remember, if you are looking for a pet, there are many other animals out there that need your love and care, especially in animal homes. |
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
Monkeys are some of the most intelligent animals on Earth. They are our
closest living relatives in the animal world and their facial features are
very similar to human primates.
