Following a recent visit to the wonderful Fota Wildlife Park in Cork, I found myself becoming more obsessed and amazed by the monkey world. From the adorable Black and White Colobus to the cheeky Agile Gibbons who played up to the crowds – it was difficult not to contemplate popping a monkey or two into my handbag!
When I think of pet monkeys (or apes) the first thing that springs to mind is the movie Dunston Checks In and the orangutan that was quite fond of wearing red and white polka dot boxers – little did I know that this seemingly funny concept was a reality in thousands of homes throughout the U.S.
Last night’s insightful documentary on TV3 entitled My Monkey Baby followed the lives of three American couples who adopted ‘monkids’ under the pretence that they would be their newborn baby and raised as part of their family – needless to say the results were shocking. It is estimated that 15,000 monkeys live with humans as pets or surrogate children in the United States, costing $5,000 a pop.
It was quite disturbing to think that the majority of monkeys featured in the show had more expensive clothes, toys (plasma TVs to be exact) and better living conditions than most human children. As bizarre as it sounds these unique parents spend all of their time devoting love and attention to their ‘children who will never grow up’ (I kid you not!).
Indiana couple Jesus and Carmen waited seven years until they were financially stable to adopt baby butters, a capuchin monkey. The couple decided not to have children because of Jesus' own difficult childhood. Initially I empathised with Carmen who clearly had no say in the adoption matter. However, when she began to crochet clothes in anticipation of her daughter's arrival and purchase diapers for premature infants, I couldn't help but think that she was enjoying her new motherly role.
Both of the proud parents rearranged their working schedules for baby Butters to ensure that their ‘newborn child’ could have 24-hour supervision (including babysitters). It was absolutely heartbreaking watching Butters (real) monkey mum who was suffering from Loss Syndrome pining after her daughter. Do these people not have a conscience?
Bob and Mary Lynn from Tennessee decided to adopt two monkeys when Lynn sadly discovered that she could not bear children of her own. Mary Lynn calls herself a stay-at-home mom to Maggie and Silly Willy, and like many mums she often finds herself reminding her precious children who the boss is (especially when Silly Willy refuses to get dressed).
I was flabbergasted when Silly Willy endured his first sugar rush after eating a cookie (it was wrong on so many levels). However, Lori was the one who really took the biscuit when she rang a monkey psychic to see if Silly Willy had stolen a pink pill that had fallen on the ground. From Silly Willy falling asleep sucking his thumb to being placed in the ‘naughty cage’ for misbehaving (all he did was remove clothes he didn’t want to wear) – I couldn't help but think that this is animal cruelty.
Lori Johnson believes that she has no purpose in life now that her six children have moved away from home (it has been five years since she last had contact with them). To fill the lonely void in her life she adopted Jessica Marie when she was seven weeks old. It was nine months before Lori could leave the room without Jessy having a panic attack.
It gets worse - when Jessy started to nip at Lori and her husband Jim they eventually decided to get her teeth removed. How can these people that adopt these poor monkeys live with themselves?
Better yet, how is this process even legal?
Laura Delaney
