My Monkey Baby

My Monkey Baby

Watch this episode now on 4oD Monkey

What motivates a couple to raise a monkey?

These animals are spoilt rotten: they have their own bedrooms; the latest toys and games; a seat at the dinner table, and in the car; wardrobes full of designer clothes; and even make-up. And in the park their 'primate parents' push their monkeys in prams to play on the swings and slides.

To Lori and Jim Johnson, Jessica Marie is far more than a Capuchin monkey. 'If I hear anyone call her a monkey I throw a fit,' says 'dad' Jim, 'She's my daughter, 100%'. For Lori, having a 'monkid' seemed the perfect answer to her needs: 'I knew exactly what I was going to do, she was going to be a baby I was going to have forever.'

To have a child that never grows up sounds like a nightmare to many, but to these parents it can seem like a dream come true. What makes a couple take on a 40-year commitment to an eternal toddler? How strong is the mother/monkey attachment? And can a monkey really become a child substitute?

On TV

First Shown

Date Time Channel
Tuesday 02 June 2009 10PM Channel 4

Last Shown

Date Time Channel
Monday 10 August 2009 1.50AM More4

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  1. I was so discusted by this show and can't believe TLC would even air this show!!! These people have no respect for animals and just contribute to the breeding of these monkeys! I really hope the breeders get caught and this can be put to an end. I was so upset when I watched this show and couldn't even watch it all. Seeing the person breeding the monkeys in that small dark space in their home where the monkeys were kept in small cages was so WRONG and should not be allowed!!!! I hope these people realize this is wrong and TLC will never air this again!!!
    Posted by Anne on 23/12/2009 16:23:16
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  2. I was heartbroken to see this programme, and was unable to watch most of it. I was especially disgusted to see that when the young couple 'purchased' their monkey, they were then taken to the abysmal breeding room, where the two new 'parents' stood with the breeder with glazed stupid grins on their faces and paraded the infant infornt of the obviously grieveing and distressed mother whose baby they held, bafflingly still confused when she didn't want to befriend them. To those of you who advocate having monkeys as pets, or as 'helpers', do you think that- if people were unable to have children, did not want to have children, simply wanted a slave or a novelty or for whatever reason felt they would not be better looked after by a trained human nurse- society would support these people kidnapping babies, ripping them from their mothers breasts and denying them the life that nature intended them, in the same way as the idea of the 'domestic monkey' seems to be supported. Why is it that monkeys- who are so frighteningly close to humans in behaviour, intelligence and emotion- are denied the basic rights we would give to a human mother, that is to raise her own child, and to humans, that is to not live in captvity. And what seems to add insult to injury is that these people actually believe that this so called relationship that is based on trauma is the more 'humane' thing to do. Monkey babies grip on to soft toys because they so deparately miss the warmth and conact of their own mother. If all of these monkeys were so happy and free, then why were they always on leads, or in cages? How many of you who have monkeys let them roam freely in the trees? None of you probably, beacause you know as well as I do that they would be off like a shot before you knew it. Maybe not because they hate you- I'm sure you do form a bond, though I am sure it is more on your part than on theirs- but simply because it is their nature, to explore and to exercise the agility that nature gave them. They can never be fulfilled living in a house. To the person who commented on how 'monkeys get to sleep in soft beds. not hard trees, ' I can only try and explain how riduculous that sounds by suggesting to you that it is as unatural for a mokney to sleep in a bed as it would be for us to sleep in trees. It doesn't matter how much you love your monkeys, I'm sure you do, but if you have them, you are hurting them. You are not their parents, or even anything close to a replacemrnt. You are able to have them only because a corrupt and misguided system has somehow not yet seen why it is purely wrong to attempt to domesticate exotic pets, and has not AS YET made it illegal. The only thing that has slightly saved my faith in humanity is that some peoples comments asctually make sense, as they appreciate how ludicrous it is to advocate a monkey wearing make up, and appreciate the idgnity of a highly intelligent being being dressed up like a todler and paraded around in a nappy.
    Posted by milesc on 08/12/2009 05:53:51
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  3. I have a capuchine monkey that is my service animal. I love him greatly. He makes me very happy. He is bathed each day, wears diapers and clothes. I am so thankful for him. He is not in a lab somewhere being lab tested, but I guess some people think that is ok. If you don't like capuchins fine, but you do not know what you are talking about when you say bad things about this wonderful friend of mine., Oh yes, I do have human children. Don't like the program then easy answer, don't watch it.
    Posted by Capuchin Lover on 07/11/2009 23:19:48
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  4. aww so cute i think its ok to have a pet monkey but not keep it like that give it some freedom not wearing dresses !!!
    Posted by *abbie* on 26/10/2009 00:30:17
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  5. How Absolutely Awful. Animals Should be in the Wild, not kept as Children. They should be with their own kind. They dont look happy at all. Disgusting.
    Posted by Miletta on 25/10/2009 11:18:42
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  6. Poor little monkeys, and shame on the people they don't know what they are talking about, to think they can decide for the monkeys what they like and need.
    Posted by Patricia on 13/10/2009 17:38:32
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  7. Hey - where can I get a Monkey Baby t-shirt?! I have to have one!
    Posted by lagust on 08/10/2009 05:14:10
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  8. i LOVE this show.I think owning a monkey is a great idea.I look forward to owning a pet monkey someday like jess.Monkeys deserve a loving home and family and a meal a few times a day maybe even a treat.So as long as you have a good home and the supplies needed to take care of a monkey i think you should get one.I LOVE MONKEYS!!!peace out-Carly
    Posted by carly on 07/10/2009 02:00:00
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  9. not all primate owner are idots! i'm sorry but these shows pick the worst ones. why would someone adopt a human child if they choose not to have one. would you like to see that child raised by someone that didnt want children? what kind of life would that be for the child. we have the right to choose if we want children or not! I have 2 and they are my life! but i also respect that some people dont want them! I also have primates, i respect that some people do not agree with it, but that is my right. we live in america right? my primates are not my children. but they are a huge part of our family just as well as my dogs, cats, horses, goat, and so on. i would love to show my life with my priamtes, but the tv shows will not agree to not edit and twist things around.
    Posted by kasey on 05/10/2009 12:58:04
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  10. I am so disgusted by this program, to say that a baby monkey is a good option for people who can't have their own children is ridiculus! Adpot a human child instead. A monkey is a wild animal the deserves to be with its own kind, not fed crappy processed food which results in them getting diabetes. Also primate mothers don't usually abandon their own infants, I worked in a behavioural research lab where we had many infant capuchins born and all were raised well by their own mothers. I cannot even imagine the pain these primate mothers feel when their infants are ripped from them, never to be seen again. A baboon I studied in the wild carried around her dead infant for 2 days before she was able to let it go. Now don't tell me they don't grieve from loss like we do.
    Posted by bornfree84 on 05/10/2009 02:16:27
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  11. Wild animals are dignified, self-sufficient creatures with complicated needs that are best met by living with their own kind. Research and common sense reveal that primates especially need the social interaction of their respective species. No matter how safe we are keeping them from the elements when we put them in our houses or in cages, when we do so we corrupt their dignity by taking away their choices. Our own children face all kinds of dangers and risks out in the world, but we don't lock them up in their bedrooms for the rest of their lives. We don't do this because we know that if we do, we deny them the opportunity to be who they really are. It is not a wild animal's job to fulfill our human need to be needed. We are decimating wild populations of animals with this foolishness. It is time to face the truth: wild animals do not now, nor have they ever, nor will they ever, belong to us. They are not our children or our property. If we really love them, we will restore their rightful homes that we destroyed and allow them to live peacefully within them.
    Posted by Decatbastet on 03/10/2009 18:30:41
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  12. Why is it so wrong to give monkeys the love and care they long for. It is known that 75% of monkeys in the wild do not survive the elements. It is rare for a primate to die with human owners. Living with humans they have air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. They sleep in a soft bed, not a hard tree. They do not have to wonder where there next meal is going to come from and they don't have to fear they are going to be eaten by prey. They get medical attention if they are sick which they don't in the wild. Yes it may be considered human nature in the wild but my monks are very loving and if they were distressed living in captivity they would not be so loving to us. They are healty happy and greatful to be so well taken care of. They show their gratitude every day with many hugs and kisses. In the wild they are always hungry and thin wondering where their next meal is coming from. They are killed by pouchers and get no medical help if ill. They fear being eaten. How can this be better for them to live in the wild than in the comfort of a home where they are well taken care of?
    Posted by Chris on 30/09/2009 15:48:57
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  13. I'm looking forward to this clip. I've had capuchin monkeys for many years and have lots of friends who also have them. They're very unique...but not a pet for everyone. They need a lot of love and understanding. No more vacations unless they can go too..... People with hot tempers should never have a monkey. Lots of patience is needed. They're very social and need a lot of interaction. I absolutely love monkeys!!
    Posted by SpunkyMunky on 29/09/2009 03:05:01
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  14. ILL HAVE YOU ALL KNOW THAT THIS EPISODE MADE THE PEOPLE IN THERE LOOK LIKE TOTAL BARBARIANS! WHAT YOU SEEN IN THERE WAS NOT TRUE! MONKEYS IN CAPTIVITY DO NOT.... I WILL SAY AGAIN.... DO NOT HAVE ANY EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT TO THEIR YOUNG ONES. THEY DONT EVEN TAKE CARE OF THEM IN CAPTIVITY. IF THEY DO, MAYBE A WEEK. THEN THEY JUST DROP THEM NOT WANTING ANYTHING MORE TO DO WITH THEM. SO THOSE WHO ARE DEGRADING THOSE WHO OWN PRIMATES SHOULD RETHINK EVERYTHING. THE ONES WHO THE BREEDERS HAVE ARE BETTER OFF THERE THAN WHERE THEY CAME FROM.... A 2FT BY 2FT CAGE BEIN POKED WITH NEEDLES AND OTHER THINGS FOR LAB TESTING......I BELIEVE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO OWN PRIMATES. THE ONES WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GETTING INTO. ITS A BIG COMMITTMENT. BUT THOSE WHO DO OWN THEM SHOULD NEVER USE THEM AS CHILD REPLACEMENTS THEY ARE STILL WILD ANIMALS AND DESERVE TO BE THE MONKEY THAT THEY ARE.... CHANNEL 4.....YOU DIDNT KNOW WHAT YOU WERE WRITING ABOUT. DIDNT EVEN HAVE A CLUE WHAT YOU SAID IN THERE WAS NOT THE TRUTH AT ALL. ALL ARE WRONG....
    Posted by raerae on 23/09/2009 05:22:46
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  15. monkid?? LOL
    Posted by james on 23/08/2009 22:43:56
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  16. Really want to watch this as missed it on TV. How do I access it on channel4.com?? There is nowhere to click to watch it!! It just shows the clips :( Please help!!
    Posted by nisha on 13/08/2009 20:27:02
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  17. so wrong
    Posted by mand on 11/08/2009 11:48:00
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  18. when is the next program on?
    Posted by monkeyy20 on 11/06/2009 15:16:02
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  19. I switched on,hesitently because of the title, and then flicked channels because of the content. I made myself go back and watch it, because of the monkey's face. I watched the rest of the programme with difficulty. I cannot believe that in 2009 we are still subjecting animals, vunerable animals ( as in,they have no say) to living in our world. I just feel very ashamed to be a human being, The faces of those monkey's,each and every one of them, will stay in my head. So VERY wrong. Shame on you Channel 4 for even starting the process to encourage these people.
    Posted by Louise Roberts on 11/06/2009 00:26:24
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  20. i think it is sick that the older couple are wanting to start a family with a monkey as their daughter it just disgusts me how would they like it if they had one of their children taken to live with monkeys i just dont agree with having monkeys as pets!!!
    Posted by gilly* on 07/06/2009 13:58:56
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  21. I think this is cruel. It's not like they are cats and dogs which have been bred for thousands of years in human company. Monkeys are wild animals and should be treated as monkeys, not like human babies. The part which showed the breeder keeping monkeys in small cages with little enrichment, and to learn the little baby had been separated from its mother at 10 days old, really upset me. These are intelligent animals. Puppies can be separated from their mothers at 9 WEEKS. That baby monkey needs the guidance of its real mother, not to be coo'd over by some deluded Americans.
    Posted by MyNameIsNotImportant on 04/06/2009 16:16:18
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  22. @ Amber: One thing which I do not think the program mentioned is the monkey Jessica marie has had her teeth removed http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=614389 When you take away an animals weapons, then it CAN'T express it's unhappiness with agression, because agression is completely ineffectual and seen as "cute". As I said before, it is very common for monkeys in "baby" situations to become argreeive to their owners, as well as to strangers, and to be sold or surrendered to sanctuaries. This tends to occur at 2-5 years of age, depending on the species and when it reaches maturity. I think the program was somewhat irresponsible to be honest. Compare it to a show about an obscure drug, which most members of the public are not aware of and where statistics show addiction and dependance are common, but the show only following users who are just starting on the drug or those rare cases of people who are functioning addicts. Fortunately in this country primate ownership is restricted so we should not see a spate of new owners, but in the States, a show like this that plays up the good and completely ignores the statistical truth is very irresponsible. Yes the presenters and commentaries were slanted towards ridiculing the participants rather than supporting them, and the shots of adoptive parents laughing at the suffering of the monkey mother reaching out for her stolen baby were chilling, but I feel the reality of agression, mutilation and ruined animals was not adequately represented.
    Posted by Kraken on 04/06/2009 16:08:13
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  23. I found this so upsetting, The breeder kept the breeding monkeys in small cages, and to take a baby a few days old was so cruel, she of course was making lots of money! The people who purchase them should be ashamed of themselves.
    Posted by Michelle on 03/06/2009 20:42:01
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  24. I wonder how people would feel if monkey's kept us as pets?
    Posted by Annie on 03/06/2009 14:48:09
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  25. I'm not sure abut this, to be honest. I thought it would be cruel, and seeing the baby separated from the mother at the breeder's house was horrible. But monkeys can be quite aggressive, and if they don't like something they will show it, they can turn vicious. And all of these monkeys seem happy. None of them are at all aggressive or unhappy from what I've seen so far. They seem to really bond with their owners. But it is very strange, and I can't quite decide if it's wrong or not. I think I'll have to watch more before I can make up my mind.
    Posted by Amber on 03/06/2009 12:12:28
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  26. I agree this is pure animal cruelty, it actually sickens me. Humans think they can take whatever the hell they bloody want, including a baby from a mother! It is not natural and is beyond cruel and selfish. I am ashamed that i am part of such a hideously selfish and vile specie.
    Posted by Samantha on 02/06/2009 22:49:50
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  27. I just watched a bit and had to turn over, it is so cruel, the breeder of the monkey babies keeps the parents in small cages, then takes the baby away, it is awful. The couples getting them need help it is not a baby it is an intelligent animal who should not be dressed up or wearing a nappy. I am really outraged by this primates are beautiful creatures whom we need to protect from these insane people.
    Posted by Jodi on 02/06/2009 22:40:36
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  28. I don't understand how this is even legal. It's animal cruelty. Keeping domesticated animals as pets is one thing but taking animals from the wild for any reason is just really cruel. One day humans will wake up and become humane towards animals but I'm not holding my breath. In the meantime there are some great organisations rescuing animals from human cruelty - such as this one - http://www.monkeyworld.co.uk/main.php
    Posted by Newshound on 02/06/2009 19:45:43
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  29. the truth is, they are NOT babies forever. Baby monkeys grow up into adult monkeys. Adult monkeys are frequently aggressive, territorial, destructive and make horrible pets. Not because they are "bad" but because they are monkeys, highly intelligent wild animals which have evolved to live in large, complex groups where social pecking orders are frequently established by fighting. there are many charities and sanctuaries in the US that care for monkeys that were perfect pets right up until the day they mauled their owners, or developed self destructive behaviours. Most are so full they are forced to turn animals away. I suspect this show will go into the nasty side of things, the problems are so obvious and widespread (and make great TV, with the blatant naivete of the people in the trailer)
    Posted by Karen on 02/06/2009 00:38:27
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  30. i disagree i think having a monkey baby is the best thing in the world. They need 100% attention and care, but thats a good thing as the monkey is always looked after. Also the monkey doesnt have to fend for itself and gets all the nuture and love needed.
    Posted by charlotte on 01/06/2009 22:48:25
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  31. Yes, but, 'monkey see, monkey do'.
    Posted by Banana Bonanza on 01/06/2009 15:11:04
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  32. Its quite a sad really, not only that these people need to put there natural instinct to look after a child onto a pet, but also that they cannot see how fundamentally wrong it is to keep a primate as a pet. Not only does it make keeping monkeys more acceptable to others around them, it also will increase the demand, and therefore trade of exotic animals, eventually causing devastation to populations of the wild animals these people think they love so much. If they truly loved these animals, they would fight against their domestication, where in reality they are more likely to be abused than loved although these families seem to 'love' theirs very much. They are wild, they will always be wild and to see them there is so much more amazing than watching people force their human behavior onto a creature which is similar, but not the same as us. You can get attached emotionally to anything, the most amazing thing about primates is that we see ourselves in them, but they are not human! And it is illegal to import exotic animals into the country, I wonder if these people realise that their 'kids' were most likely taken from their parents at a young age, transported in small boxes causing a lot of distress, and likely not all individuals made it, and then sold to them as cute child replacements. I thought people were smarter than this, its 2009 and people still think like Victorians.
    Posted by Sarah on 30/05/2009 15:58:02
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10 August 2009

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