Instead of banning the primate pet trade in the UK and not allowing people other than yourself to keep them. Why not try to change the law that makes owners more responsible and teach them about the care they need?
It is rather like saying some people abuse their children so you stop it by banning anyone from having children.
Have you ever thought if the trade is banned all the animals in private hands will go underground? Those kept out side in spaciouse enclosures by responsible owners will be moved out of sight indoors, and as they won't risk taking them to the vet the animals could end up suffering even more.[/
Any ban wouldn't be retrospective so animals would not be destroyed or abandoned. There are so many differences between people having babies and people having pet marmosets or capuchins, the biggest one being we all have experience of being humans and know how to meet a humans needs, there is also a tight legal framework in place which protects children who aren'T being care for, there's a whole act called the children act that sets out their rights. This complex legislation will never be considered for an animal.
The majority of primates that have been kept as pets that end up in sanctuaries are there because their owners have asked for the sanctuaries help when they realise they are out of their depth. The cases where the case goes to court and the animals are removed via court order only happen in extreme cases of neglect.
Absolutely there are a few keepers who keep their 'pet' primates very well but the amount that end up in sanctuaries with physical and psychological damage would suggest they are in the minority. Whilst the law stays as it is this problem will not stop, it is no harder to buy a marmoset than it is to buy a hamster, despite the marmoset having very complex needs.
I have pleanty of experience working with primates. As for the little dig I don't want to keep primates, I wish there was no need for sanctuaries but there is if you like it or not. Thanks for you well wishes I'm sure they were very sincere. Perhaps when the sanctuary is up and running you could have a zoochat day out to one of the open days.