Police declaration: Unusual encounter with inebriated Rolls Royce driver, as infant monkey in knitted attire was discovered in his grasp during bizarre traffic stop.
In the small hours of December 30, 2024, a CHP officer made a routine traffic stop on State Route 99, Madera County. The vehicle in question was a speeding Rolls Royce Ghost, and its eccentric passenger turned out to be the real surprise. The driver, under the influence and in possession of cannabis, was charged with DUI and drug-related offenses.
But that's not all. Nestled in the driver's arms was a tiny, adorable spider monkey, clad in a charming pink sweater. The sight was nothing short of extraordinary in this part of California, where pet primates are strictly forbidden due to state laws.
Due to its illegal ownership, the baby monkey was handed over to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The monkey was whisked off to the Oakland Zoo for proper care. The driver, meanwhile, found themselves behind bars on a variety of charges- DUI, possession of cannabis, and illegal ownership of an exotic pet.
CHP Madera used this unusual incident to reiterate the importance of having a sober driver-preferably a human one.
This peculiar incident serves as a reminder of the strict laws governing pet primates in California and the international wildlife trafficking issue that surrounds them. California's ban on primate ownership is more stringent than federal regulations, which currently allow private ownership unless it involves interstate commerce or specific protected species.
A recent bill, the Captive Primate Safety Act, aims to ban private ownership of primates across the U.S., with exceptions for zoos, sanctuaries, research facilities, and universities. Existing pet owners would be allowed to keep their primates if they register them.
The demand for spider monkeys as pets contributes to their high trafficking rates across the U.S.- Mexico border, which poses grave threats to animal welfare and public safety. Recent cases like this one highlight the challenges in enforcing laws against primate trafficking, underscoring the need for stricter federal regulations like the Captive Primate Safety Act.
The eccentric passenger's possession of an adorable spider monkey, dressed in a pink sweater, raised concerns about the high trafficking rates of these primates in California. This incidence underscores the need for stronger national regulations, like the Captive Primate Safety Act, to combat the international wildlife trafficking of these animals for entertainment purposes and pet ownership.
