We’re celebrating the fact that Bali, a province of Indonesia, has formalized a ban on keeping long-tailed macaques as pets. The ban was introduced due to growing concerns of animal welfare, ecological implications, and safety concerns.  

Friends of Animals knows all too well that primates—who are highly social and intelligent—belong in the wild and not exploited as pets. That is because FoA has managed Texas-based Primarily Primates sanctuary since 2007. A staggering 100 of our 199 primates at PPI are ex-pets—including lemurs, spider monkeys, capuchins and chimps. Macaques arrive to the sanctuary mostly when released from research labs.

PPI has rescued many macaques, of which about half are ex-pets.  Pet primates are typically kept alone in small cages without the ability to socialize and bond with their own kind. 

Safety concerns associated with macaques also underscore the importance of a ban like this in Bali. They are prone to several diseases that are transferrable to humans. Macaques are happier, healthier, and safer in their natural habitats.  

This shift encourages the people of Bali to limit human-wildlife interaction, increase safety for both humans and animals, and place conservation at the helm of their ethos. Bali prides itself on being a leader in “ethical tourism” and we’re glad to see that their attitude towards macaques is shifting to align with this title. 

BKSDA Bali, a natural resource conservation center, accepts macaque surrenders without penalty. Surrendered macaques will be evaluated and rehabilitated as necessary and consequently released back into the wild when deemed appropriate. In 2025 alone, 30 macaques have been voluntarily surrendered to BKSDA.  

No primates should be privatized. We applaud Bali for ensuring that macaques are able to live freely.