Captive Primate Safety Act

The Captive Primate Safety Act (H.R. 2920) would prohibit the interstate trade and private ownership of monkeys, apes, and other non-human primates as pets. Under this legislation, it would become illegal to sell, purchase, or transport these animals across state lines or international borders for the purpose of personal possession. Additionally, the bill establishes safety requirements for licensed facilities by banning direct physical contact between the general public and certain wild animals, including primates and large cats like lions and tigers.

For the average citizen, this means that keeping a primate as a household pet would be restricted, though the bill includes exemptions for accredited zoos, research laboratories, and sanctuaries. The primary goal of the legislation is to improve public safety and animal welfare by reducing the risk of animal attacks and the spread of zoonotic diseases. While the bill was introduced in 2015 and referred to a subcommittee, it did not become law during that session of Congress; however, similar versions of this legislation continue to be debated in subsequent sessions.