New York Woman Caught With Illegal Pet Spider Monkey

It is illegal to keep a Spider Monkey as a pet in New York State. Someone should have informed this individual from Erie County before the monkey broke its wrist and developed a case of rickets. Take a look at a picture of the poor little guy below.

There are many reasons why people are not allowed to have certain wild animals as pets. These animals need proper care, medical attention, nutrition, and, if they are able to, they should just be in the wild where they are meant to be. Here's what we know of this case.

On Tuesday April 14th, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigators in Erie County responded to a report about an individual in possession of a spider monkey at a home on Grand Island.

Investigators identified a subject who lived at the residence and confirmed the monkey was there. The individual acknowledged that she could no longer care for the animal and gave it up to Investigators who transported it to a licensed primate sanctuary. Take a look at this little guy.

DEC officials checked in with the licensed sanctuary and learned the spider monkey had a broken right wrist and a case of rickets, likely due to a poor diet and lack of veterinary care. The animal is still being cared for at the primate sanctuary.

In 2009, a 200-pound pet chimpanzee mauled a Connecticut woman, leaving her with life-altering injuries including the loss of her hands, nose, lips, and eyelids. Spider monkeys are illegal to possess as pets in New York State and DEC does not issue licenses for primates as pets.