Stopping in for fuel central Peru, on the edge of the jungle, the woman who pumps my gas has a tiny tamarin monkey clutching to her, its head just peeking out of her shirt. . The monkey is adorable, with its tiny face and fingers. . The woman permitted me to take a photo but when I asked what happened to its mother, she would not respond. . She obviously cared for this illegally kept monkey, but what happens when it isn’t receiving the varied nourishment it should, and falls ill? And what happens when it hits puberty, and becomes aggressive and strongly desiring to go seek a mate? What is best for the monkey? . The monkey will never be able to fend for itself, it will never be accepted in a troop in the wild, it likely doesn’t even know it is a monkey. . Millions of animals are stolen from the wild to become pets every year. . The conquest of the exotic world, bringing it into our domestic homes is not only audacious, but cruel. We could never replicate the space, freedom, or nutrients they would have in their natural, wild habitat. . Wild animals are not pets. . I’ve reported this case to the Neotropical Primate Conservation team (neoprimate.org). You can help them find a more suitable home for this monkey and others. . #neotropicalprimates #tamarin #saguinis #peru #illegalpettrade #wildliferescue #indianmotorcycle #wearealltrulywild https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Z7delhBqN/?igshid=1m3eh0h1g53co