u/MayRey

I'd love nothing more than to have personal interactions with apes and monkeys.

To cuddle up to an orangutan, feed a baby chimpanzee, play with spider monkeys, to sit besides a bonobo and bond over a delicious fruit snack. I think it's safe to say most of us here have likely had similar thoughts. After all, we're here because we love Apes and primates, are we not?

However, it would be wholly selfish of me to put my own desires before the wellbeing of another sentient creature. Primates are deeply social animals that need the company of their own kin to survive and live happy fulfilling lives.

Were I to "own" a primate, it would not matter how much sincere love and good will I'd have towards them, I would simply not be able to meet their needs for companionship, dietary requirements, or mental/physical stimulation and enrichment. Nor could I keep up with their needs as a complex social animal and I think it's fair to say 90% of people would not have the space they need either.

Primates are not domesticated like cats, dogs, ferrets, or pigeons. While I will always fight against the evil chimpanzee stereotype, it is a fact that they, and other primates, can be dangerous and unpredictable especially when mistreated. It is ridiculous to assume any Tom, Dick, or Harry could safely raise and provide for their needs without proper training in their care and psychology.

This isn't even covering the fact that "owning" a primate will directly support the exotic pet trade, which murders countless innocent animals and itself funds other horrific crimes all over the world.

[Side note: Zoos]

Zoos, reserves, and sanctuaries are of course, completely different stories. While not every zoo is a good zoo >!(the USA seems to have lots of really shitty private ones)!<, for many many animals they are the only chance at a good life. They otherwise would suffer and quickly die in the wild. Many Zoos and Sanctuaries help conservation and even directly contribute to rewilding efforts. They aren't perfect, but they are not the same as "oi, me mate Derek's got a little monkey on a string".

I've never really considered myself as "having an art style" in the same way I don't always think of myself as "having an accent". Because it's just my default, I don't really have to think about it. But to others I obviously do have an accent and an art style. Know what I mean?

I'm also terrible at analysis. Do I have a style? Would my art be recognisable? I'm genuinely curious and you all seem like a friendly bunch.