Latest news with #GillyMendesFerreira
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Monkey addicted to marshmallows saved from pet trade
Charities have warned of a growing trade in wild animals across Scotland after a monkey was discovered in a bird cage in East Lothian with a marshmallow addiction. They are calling on the Scottish government to introduce a permitted list of animals that can be legally kept as pets. OneKind, the Scottish SPCA and Born Free say there are currently very few restrictions, which has led to many creatures suffering in unsuitable conditions. The young marmoset monkey - called Steve - was taken in by the Scottish SPCA after neighbours spotted him in a living room window in March. The charity said the four-year-old monkey was underweight and "stressed out" from constant handling. He had developed an addiction to sugary marshmallows after being repeatedly fed them as a treat. After six weeks in the charity's care, Steve made a full recovery and was moved to a permanent home in a monkey sanctuary in England. Gilly Mendes Ferreira, the Scottish SPCA's strategic communications director, said people were unaware of the scale of wild animal keeping in Scotland. "It's a growing and worrying trend," she said. "Animals like Steve being bought and sold as novelty pets, often on impulse, with little understanding of the complex care they require." She added: "Marmosets are highly intelligent, social primates that need space, stimulation, and the companionship of their own kind. "No domestic setting - no matter how well-meaning - can truly meet those needs. " The Scottish government said it was committed to the highest standards of animal welfare and understood public health and conservation concerns around the keeping of exotic pets. Research by the animal charities for their new Don't Pet Me campaign suggested requests from children may persuade people to acquire novelty pets. External influences like social media, films and games such as Pokémon and Minecraft have also been linked to the trade of wild animals. Researchers from the charities found that over a 16-week period, creatures from more than 300 species were advertised for sale in Scotland. They said the trade was an international business with some animals transported by couriers in inappropriate containers - sometimes without any indication a live animal is inside. A Scottish government spokesperson said: "We welcome the work of groups in dealing with the welfare problems caused by irresponsible owners and the campaign for raising awareness of this important issue. "The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has explored the issues surrounding the keeping of exotic pets and we will continue to consider the steps that could be taken in this area." Cat found in illegal trap had to be euthanised 'Unprecedented' number of dogs rescued from 'squalid' conditions
BBC News
01-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Monkey addicted to marshmallows saved from exotic pet trade
Charities have warned of a growing trade in wild animals across Scotland after a monkey was discovered in a bird cage in East Lothian with a marshmallow are calling on the Scottish government to introduce a permitted list of animals that can be legally kept as the Scottish SPCA and Born Free say there are currently very few restrictions, which has led to many creatures suffering in unsuitable young marmoset monkey - called Steve - was taken in by the Scottish SPCA after neighbours spotted him in a living room window in March. The charity said the four-year-old monkey was underweight and "stressed out" from constant had developed an addiction to sugary marshmallows after being repeatedly fed them as a six weeks in the charity's care, Steve made a full recovery and was moved to a permanent home in a monkey sanctuary in England. 'Growing trend' Gilly Mendes Ferreira, the Scottish SPCA's strategic communications director, said people were unaware of the scale of wild animal keeping in Scotland."It's a growing and worrying trend," she said. "Animals like Steve being bought and sold as novelty pets, often on impulse, with little understanding of the complex care they require."She added: "Marmosets are highly intelligent, social primates that need space, stimulation, and the companionship of their own kind."No domestic setting - no matter how well-meaning - can truly meet those needs. "The Scottish government said it was committed to the highest standards of animal welfare and understood public health and conservation concerns around the keeping of exotic by the animal charities for their new Don't Pet Me campaign suggested requests from children may persuade people to acquire novelty pets. External influences like social media, films and games such as Pokémon and Minecraft have also been linked to the trade of wild animals. Researchers from the charities found that over a 16-week period, creatures from more than 300 species were advertised for sale in said the trade was an international business with some animals transported by couriers in inappropriate containers - sometimes without any indication a live animal is inside.A Scottish government spokesperson said: "We welcome the work of groups in dealing with the welfare problems caused by irresponsible owners and the campaign for raising awareness of this important issue."The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has explored the issues surrounding the keeping of exotic pets and we will continue to consider the steps that could be taken in this area."
Edinburgh Live
01-05-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Live
Monkey found in East Lothian home was 'stressed' after being kept in bird cage
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A monkey was rescued from a home in East Lothian after being kept in a cage as a "novelty pet." The young marmoset, named Steve, was discovered after a call was made to the Scottish SPCA by concerned neighbours. They spotted the monkey being kept in a large bird cage near the living room window. Animal welfare experts discovered Steve, four, was in a poor condition. He was underweight, stressed from constant handling and had been fed marshmallows which he developed an addiction to. As the Record reports, Steve was taken into the care of the SSPCA in March and nursed back to full health before being transferred to a monkey sanctuary in England. Steve is one of many exotic creatures that are being kept in households across Scotland. On May 1, the SSPCA in partnership with charities OneKind and Born Free, launched a new campaign "Don't Pet Me", calling on the Scottish Government to tighten its legislation, which has been criticised as "inappropriate and outdated", on wild animals. The animal charities aim to raise awareness of the widespread trade in keeping wild animals as pets and have called on the introduction of a permitted list of animals which can legally be kept. They say a lack of restrictions around how wild animals can be acquired has led to the suffering of many being kept in unsuitable conditions, with breeding practices, and owners having a lack of understanding of their complex needs. Gilly Mendes Ferreira, Scottish SPCA Director of Strategic Communications and Partnership Engagement said: "Many people are unaware of the scale of wild animal keeping in Scotland or the challenges it presents for animal welfare. 'Don't Pet Me' aims to highlight the issue and encourage a more responsible approach to exotic pet ownership. "It's a growing and worrying trend: animals like Steve being bought and sold as novelty pets, often on impulse, with little understanding of the complex care they require. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages "But while these creatures might look cute, they are anything but easy to look after. Marmosets are highly intelligent, social primates that need space, stimulation, and the companionship of their own kind. "No domestic setting--no matter how well-meaning--can truly meet those needs. Thankfully Steve's story has a happy ending but not every animal will be so lucky." The charities' research revealed that hundreds of exotic species - including snakes, tortoises, birds, and exotic fish - are being bought and sold for private keeping, often with little oversight or regulation. An estimated 300 different species were available to purchase online in Scotland over a 16-week period, highlighting concerns with the ease of which animals can be acquired, often with no checks or guidance on welfare. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "We are committed to the highest standards of animal welfare and understand public health and conservation concerns around the keeping of exotic pets. We welcome the work of groups in dealing with the welfare problems caused by irresponsible owners and the campaign for raising awareness of this important issue. "The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has explored the issues surrounding the keeping of exotic pets and we will continue to consider the steps that could be taken in this area."
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Monkey found in Scots home being kept as 'novelty' pet in bird cage
The SSPCA has launched a new campaign to tackle rules around owning wild animals. A monkey was rescued from a home in East Lothian after being kept in a cage as a "novelty" pet. The young marmoset, named Steve, was discovered after concerned neighbours called in animal welfare officers. They had spotted the tiny primate being kept in a large bird cage near the living room window. Scottish SPCA inspectors found the four-year-old animal in a poor condition. He was underweight, stressed out from constant handling and had developed an addiction to sugary marshmallows after being constantly fed them as a treat. He was taken into the care of the SSPCA, and was nursed back to health at one of its rescue centres before being transferred to a monkey sanctuary in England. Steve is one of many exotic creatures that are being kept in households across Scotland. On May 1, the SSPCA in partnership with charities OneKind and Born Free, launched a new campaign "Don't Pet Me", calling on the Scottish Government to tighten its legislation, which has been criticised as "inappropriate and outdated", on wild animals. The animal charities aim to raise awareness of the widespread trade in keeping wild animals as pets and have called on the introduction of a permitted list of animals which can legally be kept. They say a lack of restrictions around how wild animals can be acquired has led to the suffering of many being kept in unsuitable conditions, with breeding practices, and owners having a lack of understanding of their complex needs. Gilly Mendes Ferreira, Scottish SPCA Director of Strategic Communications and Partnership Engagement said: 'Many people are unaware of the scale of wild animal keeping in Scotland or the challenges it presents for animal welfare. 'Don't Pet Me' aims to highlight the issue and encourage a more responsible approach to exotic pet ownership. 'It's a growing and worrying trend: animals like Steve being bought and sold as novelty pets, often on impulse, with little understanding of the complex care they require. 'But while these creatures might look cute, they are anything but easy to look after. Marmosets are highly intelligent, social primates that need space, stimulation, and the companionship of their own kind. 'No domestic setting—no matter how well-meaning—can truly meet those needs. Thankfully Steve's story has a happy ending but not every animal will be so lucky.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The charities' research revealed that hundreds of exotic species – including snakes, tortoises, birds, and exotic fish – are being bought and sold for private keeping, often with little oversight or regulation. An estimated 300 different species were available to purchase online in Scotland over a 16-week period, highlighting concerns with the ease of which animals can be acquired, often with no checks or guidance on welfare. Kirsty Jenkins, OneKind's Director of Policy, said: 'The research we commissioned painted a deeply worrying picture of how species commonly referred to as 'exotic pets' are thought of and treated - often as commodities or collections. 'Such sad stories emerged, of animals being kept in tiny boxes, poor diets, social isolation, forced handling, accidents and deaths. Some species, particularly of reptiles, are thought to be stupid and unfeeling, and treated accordingly. The launch of the campaign follows incidents of wild animals being illegally released in the Cairngorms National Park earlier this year. In January, four lynx were "deliberately abandoned" on two separate days in the Dell of Killiehuntly area, and roamed free before being humanely caught. However, one of the big cats, which no longer exist in the wild, did not survive. They were said to be starving when they were discovered, and were later transferred into the care of Edinburgh Zoo to undergo quarantine before being rehomed. On February 10, a herd of eight feral pigs were spotted in the Kingussie area. The non-native species were said to have been released in a "selfish and thoughtless act" that put the welfare of animals and people at risk. They were captured the following day, and humanely culled.
The National
01-05-2025
- General
- The National
Monkey found 'stressed' in bird cage in East Lothian
SSPCA officers were called out after neighbours in East Lothian spotted a young marmoset in a large bird cage in a living room window in March. The four-year-old monkey, named Steve, was found underweight and stressed out from constant handling. (Image: SSPCA / PA) Officers said he had developed an addiction to marshmallows after being constantly fed them. The SSPCA inspectors took Steve into their care, and after six weeks, he made a full recovery. He has since been transferred to a permanent home in a monkey sanctuary in England. SSPCA shared the 'harrowing' story as part of its Don't Pet Me campaign, in collaboration with wildlife charities Born Free and OneKind, to raise awareness of the wild animal pet trade in Scotland. READ MORE: Endangered giraffe arrives at Scottish safari park in bid to boost breeding The charity urged the Scottish Government to introduce a permitted list of animals that can be legally kept as pets as at present there are very few restrictions on what animals can be owned. The campaign is accompanied by a petition calling for a permitted list of animals that can be kept as pets. SSPCA director of strategic communications and partnership engagement, Gilly Mendes Ferreira, said many people are unaware of the 'growing and worrying trend' of keeping wild animal keeping in Scotland. She said: 'Animals like Steve being bought and sold as novelty pets, often on impulse, with little understanding of the complex care they require.' She added that although the animals may look cute they are 'anything but easy' to look after. 'Marmosets are highly intelligent, social primates that need space, stimulation, and the companionship of their own kind,' she said. 'No domestic setting, no matter how well-meaning, can truly meet those needs. Thankfully Steve's story has a happy ending but not every animal will be so lucky.' The charities investigated online and pet shop sales, and commissioned research into the motivations and behaviours of those keeping wild animals, with the findings included in their Don't Pet Me report. Researchers found that over a 16-week period, creatures from more than 300 species were advertised for sale in Scotland. The report highlights trade in wild animals as pets is international, with some transported by mail services and couriers, in inappropriate containers, sometimes without any indication a live animal is inside. It found many first-time owners are younger people, born after 1980. READ MORE: Hotel on Scotland's NC500 with 'stunning views' put up for sale It is thought requests from children may persuade people to acquire such a pet, while it has also been linked to external influences like social media, films and games such as Pokemon and Minecraft. OneKind's director of policy Kirsty Jenkins said: 'The research we commissioned painted a deeply worrying picture of how species commonly referred to as 'exotic pets' are thought of and treated – often as commodities or collections. 'Such sad stories emerged, of animals being kept in tiny boxes, poor diets, social isolation, forced handling, accidents and deaths. 'The law is currently failing to protect these animals – that must change.' Born Free's captivity research and policy manager, Chris Lewis, said the campaign highlights the distressing number and variety of wild animals for sale in Scotland and the lack of regulatory oversight. 'This should be a major cause for concern for the Scottish Government, legislators, animal-lovers and the public in general,' he said. 'Worryingly, the data and stories of individual animals included in the report may only be the tip of the iceberg. The existing legislation is inappropriate and outdated, it is unable to keep up with ever changing trends and demand for wild animals as pets.' He added: 'Most tragically though it is failing to protect the animals sadly caught up in this trade. 'Something needs to change. In the lead up to the next Scottish election, Born Free is calling on all political parties in Scotland to commit to comprehensive changes to the laws around the buying, selling and keeping of wild animals as pets.' The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.
