This document discusses the ownership of pet monkeys in light of the Ebola virus disease outbreak. It acknowledges the fears generated by reports linking monkeys and other primates to Ebola transmission. However, it argues that not all monkeys should be condemned and that keeping monkeys as pets can be a fun and rewarding experience if proper preventative measures and hygiene practices are followed. It encourages monkey owners to have their pets screened for Ebola and other diseases by veterinary experts to alleviate fears while also improving sanitation around monkey pet care.

1. EBOLA : MY lord!,...... IN DEFENCE OF PET MONKEYS.
With the infections, enforced isolations (quarantine), deaths, fears, awareness and all about the Ebola
virus disease(EVD), and most particularly the linkage of the possibility of infections to Bats, Monkeys,
Chimpanzees, Apes and other animals, this is definitely not the best of time for Pet Monkey owners or
lovers ,non-human primates generally (particularly Monkeys) and their ownership.
The trepidations and fears generated by the linkage of these animals as possible sources of animals to
humans transmissions (Ebola is a zoonotic disease) (and of course, there is humans to humans
transmissions) in the media was enough to dissuade or make some pet monkey owners to have a re-think,
run for cover and for some impatient or the greatly perturbed ones to contemplate going to the
extreme of doing away, one way or the other, with their once lovely, intelligent, interesting companions
and friends.
For these lovely and unique monkey pet owners, this dark cloud about Ebola disease, Monkeys and the
rest hovering over will soon abate to clearer and brighter days full of fun and opportunities. It is the
absolute belief in this and others that is compelling this advocacy in the defense of monkeys and their
ownership.
It is pertinent to say, owing and keeping monkeys as a pet can be an exciting, interesting and a great
adventure and experience. Those pet owners who are already savoring the experience will tell you how
funny and exhilarating it could be having those wonderful creatures that are near-humans as
companions and pets. Monkeys, which belong to the same classification in primates as humans (in the
animal kingdom), just like others like chimpanzees and orangutans (Apes),are very intelligent, creative ,
interesting and funny beings to have as companions.
Although not as common as a pet item amongst pet owners and pet parents when compared to dogs
cats and birds, the practice of owing and keeping monkeys and its likes as pets has over the years gained
high momentum. Chief amongst some of the factors that militated and curtailed their ownership were
the ease(or 'dis-ease') of sourcing, the exorbitant cost of procurement if at all sourced, the cost of
maintenance (their needs are almost that of humans) and the lack of awareness and information about
owing and keeping them as pets. Pet owners who keep them as pets are rear breeds and are those who
have upped the anté in terms of pet ownership and care for animals. Most of them have either owned
other pets like dogs, cats and birds in the past before moving on to them or they own them as an
addition or an adjunct to their other lovely and cherished pets like cats,dogs,birds and the likes.
As a veterinarian and clinician over these past years, l have had to attend to and treat (I still do!, as usual
with proper preventive measures with all patients) some of these wonderful creatures and l couldn't
help but be amazed with their intelligence and the fun they created while with them, even as an
occasional visitor!.
The threat of Ebola virus disease or not, it is pertinent to say in all human endeavors and projects,
threats ( Death, Diseases, Bites etc ) and Opportunities ( Fun, Financial gains, Security, Companionship
etc) go hand in hand. Keeping dogs,cats,birds and others as pets has as much threats and opportunities

2. as keeping monkeys as pets or all other thinkable human endeavors, activities, professions or work.
Without dismissing, be-littlering and under-rating the threats of monkeys as one of the sources of
infection of this deadly virus, it is pertinent and instructive to not just generalize that all monkeys,
chimpanzees or other animals are automatic carriers or reservoirs of the deadly virus or other
pathogens, it is only the infected ones that are carriers of Ebola or other zoonotic infections. Even with
the susceptibility of these species, it should not be a generalized, wholesale condemnation and
ostracizing! Only contacts with the blood, sweat, semen, stool, urine, saliva and other bodily secretions
of infected, and for emphasis, infected animals and humans that must be avoided. Ebola is not an air-borne
infection!
The emergence of Ebola has a positive aspect though, as it will curtail our penchant for and wanton
destruction of the ecosystem by humans' reckless depletions of wild animal species and resources
(including monkeys) as games and eating them up as delicacies in 'Bush meats'.
For owners who already have monkeys living with them as pets, having Monkeys as pets is not an
automatic death sentence!, it is expedient to allay the fears of Ebola by calling in Veterinary experts to
quarantine and do viral blood screening for Ebola virus amongst other laboratory tests for other
pathogens just like in humans. And thereafter enforce and improve upon the hygiene and sanitation
that has to go with the care and keeping of monkeys as pets if found clean and free.
In the end, this Ebola disease might just be the wake-up call or opportunity for pet owners generally to
take pets' healthcare, pets' hygiene and sanitation, and of course, their personal hygiene with all the
seriousness and attention they deserve.