Bush Baby Pet UK: Are They Legal? What Changes in 2026 + Why Experts Say Avoid

You've seen those adorable videos of bush babies with their enormous eyes and tiny hands, and you're wondering: can I have one as a pet in the UK?

The short answer is yes, but everything changes in April 2026. And after researching extensively, we have to be honest: most exotic pet experts strongly advise against keeping bush babies as pets, even when legal.

This guide covers the current and upcoming UK laws, the real costs involved, and why this might not be the pet you're dreaming of.

Bush Baby Legal Status UK 2026

Understanding bush baby legality in the UK requires knowing about two separate pieces of legislation:

Current Law: Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976

Bush babies (galagos) are NOT listed on the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 schedule. This means:

• No DWA licence currently required (see our guide to exotic pets without a licence)
• You can legally purchase and keep a bush baby
• No mandatory council inspections
• No legal minimum enclosure standards (though welfare laws apply)

This differs from larger primates like baboons, macaques, and great apes, which DO require DWA licences costing £200-£500 annually.

New Law: Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) Regulations 2024

Everything changes from 6 April 2026. The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 introduces:

• Mandatory licensing for ALL primate keepers in England
• Strict welfare standards for housing, diet, and enrichment
• Annual inspections by qualified assessors
• Microchipping requirements for all primates
• Criminal offences for non-compliance

This legislation was introduced by DEFRA because approximately 5,000 primates are kept as pets in the UK, often in unsuitable conditions. Born Free and other animal welfare organisations campaigned for years to achieve this regulation.

Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

The new primate licensing applies only to England. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have separate regulatory frameworks:

• Scotland: Currently no specific primate legislation beyond Animal Welfare Act 2006
• Wales: Following England's lead but timeline unclear
• Northern Ireland: Separate legislation pending

However, don't assume you can bypass rules by relocating. All UK nations enforce the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which requires meeting animals' needs regardless of species.

New Primate Licence Requirements (April 2026)

If you're considering a bush baby, you need to understand what the new licensing regime involves:

Timeline:

Licence Conditions (Schedule 1 Requirements):

Your bush baby enclosure and care must meet ALL of these standards:

Housing:

• Combined indoor AND outdoor enclosures (not just one)
• Climbing structures at multiple heights
• Resting platforms and nest boxes
• Environmental controls for temperature, humidity, and ventilation
• Escape-proof and predator-proof design
• Natural foraging opportunities
• Ability to separate animals safely if needed

Veterinary Care:

• Must register with an exotic vet experienced in primates (see BVZS directory for specialists)
• Daily health monitoring required
• Monthly weight checks documented
• Veterinary health plan for breeding animals
• Only licensed vets can euthanise

Nutrition:

• Individual diet plan reviewed annually by qualified expert
• Fresh water access in non-competitive setup
• Natural foraging opportunities
• Species-appropriate food (insects, fruits, gums)

Social Requirements:

• Must keep with appropriate companions (bush babies are social)
• Single-keeping only permitted for health/safety reasons
• Environmental enrichment promoting natural behaviours

Records & Documentation:

• Individual animal files kept for 6 years minimum
• Emergency procedures documented
• Emergency contact information displayed
• Hygiene protocols in place

Licence Costs and Process:

• Apply to your local council
• Fees vary by authority (typically £200-£500)
• Inspection by qualified assessor required
• Licence valid for up to 3 years
• At least one inspection per licence period
• Renewal inspection required

What Happens If You Don't Comply?

From April 2026, keeping a primate without a valid licence is a criminal offence. Penalties include:

• Prosecution and fines
• Animal seizure
• Disqualification from keeping animals
• Mandatory licence revocation if convicted of animal welfare offences

How Much Does a Bush Baby Cost UK?

Before considering a bush baby, understand the true financial commitment:

Purchase Price:

Prices vary by species:

• Lesser bush baby (Galago senegalensis): £800-£1,200
• Greater bush baby (Otolemur): £1,500-£2,500
• Thick-tailed bush baby: £1,800-£3,000

Initial Setup Costs:

Ongoing Annual Costs:

15-20 Year Commitment:

Bush babies live 15-20+ years in captivity. Total lifetime cost:

Minimum estimate: £800 (animal) + £1,100 (setup) + £17,250 (15 years × £1,150) = £19,150

Higher estimate: £2,500 (animal) + £3,200 (setup) + £47,000 (20 years × £2,350) = £52,700

Before purchasing, consider whether you can commit to these costs for two decades.

Bush Baby Care Requirements

Bush babies have extremely specific needs that many owners underestimate:

Enclosure:

The absolute minimum is a large walk-in aviary or double macaw cage (the largest commercially available bird cage). According to the Duke Lemur Center's husbandry guidelines, proper housing includes:

• Minimum dimensions: 2m × 2m × 2m (walk-in enclosure recommended)
• Vertical space essential: Bush babies are arboreal and need climbing room
• Multiple levels with platforms and branches
• Secure nest boxes for sleeping (nocturnal, sleep during day)
• Temperature: 20-28°C (UK homes often too cold without heating)
• Humidity: 40-60%

Diet:

Bush babies are omnivores with complex dietary needs:

Daily diet should include:

• Insects: Crickets, locusts, mealworms, wax worms (gut-loaded)
• Protein: Some keepers supplement with cooked egg or lean meat
• Vegetables: Low-glycemic options (broccoli, cauliflower, leafy greens)
• Gum arabic: Tree gum is a natural food source
• Limited fruit: Due to diabetes risk (especially in captivity)
• Commercial primate pellets: As supplement, not main diet

Foods to AVOID:

• High-sugar fruits (grapes, bananas)
• Processed human foods
• Chocolate, caffeine
• Onions, garlic
• Citrus fruits

Activity and Enrichment:

Bush babies are strictly nocturnal. This means:

• They sleep during the day (don't wake them!)
• Active from dusk to dawn (approximately 6pm-6am)
• Require significant enrichment to prevent stereotypic behaviours
• Need foraging opportunities (scatter food, puzzle feeders)
• Social species - ideally kept in pairs or groups

Behavioural Considerations:

• Scent marking: Bush babies mark territory with urine - your entire enclosure will smell
• Vocalizations: Their name comes from their baby-like cry - they are LOUD at night
• Jumping: Can leap 2+ metres - escape risk is significant
• Biting: Not typically aggressive but will bite if startled or threatened
• Cannot be litter trained

Why Bush Babies Don't Make Good Pets

We need to be honest: most exotic animal experts advise against keeping bush babies as pets. Here's why:

1. Nocturnal Lifestyle Incompatibility

Bush babies are active when you're sleeping. This means:

• You can't interact with them during normal hours
• They'll make noise all night (crying, jumping, activity)
• Handling during the day disturbs their sleep and causes stress
• Most owners rarely see their pet being "natural"

2. Social Animals Kept Alone

In the wild, bush babies live in social groups. Single bush babies often develop:

• Stereotypic behaviours (pacing, self-harm)
• Depression and lethargy
• Aggression
• Shortened lifespan

But keeping multiple bush babies requires much larger enclosures and higher costs.

3. Specialized Veterinary Care

Finding a vet who genuinely understands primate medicine is difficult. When health problems occur:

• Most vets have no training in bush baby care
• Specialist consultations cost £125-£300
• Primate-specific medications may not be readily available
• Diagnostic tests require primate expertise

Use our exotic vet directory to find vets with genuine primate experience, but even then options are limited.

4. Disease Transmission (Zoonotic Risks)

Bush babies can carry diseases transmissible to humans:

• Herpes B virus (rare but potentially fatal in humans)
• Tuberculosis
• Various parasites
• Bacterial infections

Conversely, human diseases can be fatal to bush babies. A simple cold from you could kill your pet.

5. Cannot Be Truly Domesticated

Unlike dogs or cats bred for thousands of years as companions, bush babies remain wild animals:

• Unpredictable behaviour, especially when stressed
• Will never be "cuddly" in the traditional pet sense
• Can bite without warning
• Scent marking cannot be trained out

6. 20-Year Commitment

Your life will change significantly over 20 years:

• Moving house? Need primate-appropriate accommodation
• Travelling? Who can care for a bush baby?
• Having children? Safety considerations
• Health issues? Who continues care?

7. Ethical Concerns

The exotic pet trade contributes to:

• Wild population decline (some species caught wild despite laws)
• Animal welfare issues during transport and breeding
• Impulse purchases leading to abandonment or poor care

Organizations like Born Free, the RSPCA, and the PDSA actively campaign against keeping primates as pets.

Health Concerns & Vet Care

Bush babies face several common health issues in captivity:

Common Health Problems:

Metabolic Bone Disease:

• Caused by calcium/phosphorus imbalance or inadequate UV light
• Symptoms: Weakness, fractures, difficulty moving
• Prevention: Proper diet, calcium supplementation, UV lighting

Obesity and Diabetes:

• Common in captive primates fed inappropriate diets
• Fruit sugar is a major risk factor
• Requires strict dietary management

Respiratory Infections:

• Often from inadequate temperature or humidity
• Can progress rapidly in primates
• Requires immediate veterinary attention

Dental Disease:

• Tree gums help maintain dental health naturally
• Captive diets often lack this
• Regular dental checks needed

Stress-Related Conditions:

• Gastrointestinal issues
• Self-mutilation
• Fur loss
• Immune suppression

Finding a Vet:

Before purchasing a bush baby, establish veterinary care:

1. Search our exotic vet directory for primate-experienced vets
2. Ask specifically: "Have you treated bush babies/galagos before?"
3. Check for RCVS CertAVP (Zoological Medicine) qualifications
4. Establish emergency out-of-hours coverage

Typical vet costs:

For detailed vet cost information, see our exotic vet pricing guide.

Where to Buy a Bush Baby UK

If, after reading all the above, you still want a bush baby, here's where they're typically available:

Legitimate Sources:

1. Licensed UK breeders: The most ethical option if you must purchase
2. Reputable breeders with health guarantees: Ask for veterinary health certificates
3. Specialist exotic dealers: Verify their licensing and reputation

Red Flags to Avoid:

• Sellers unwilling to show breeding facilities
• No health certificates or veterinary records
• Prices significantly below market rate
• Pressure to buy quickly
• Animals shipped without meeting the seller
• No questions asked about your setup or experience

Questions to Ask:

• Can I see the parents and where they're kept?
• What's the animal's health history?
• What diet are they currently on?
• Have they been vet-checked?
• What microchip documentation exists?
• Will you provide ongoing support?

Before Purchasing:

1. Have your enclosure completely ready
2. Register with an exotic vet
3. Understand the 2026 licensing requirements
4. Ensure you can commit for 20 years
5. Budget for ongoing costs

Better Exotic Pet Alternatives

If the bush baby's appeal is their large eyes and small size, consider these alternatives that make more suitable pets:

Sugar Gliders:

• Also have large eyes and nocturnal habits
• More readily bond with owners
• Legal without licence (not primates)
• Smaller, easier to house
• Still require specialist care

Chinchillas:

• Nocturnal, active, engaging personalities
• Long-lived (15+ years)
• Don't require licensing
• Excellent pets with proper handling
• Less specialist veterinary needs

Hedgehogs (African Pygmy):

• Smaller commitment
• Nocturnal but quieter
• Easier care requirements
• Legal without licence
• 4-7 year lifespan

Rats:

• Intelligent, trainable, social
• Form genuine bonds with owners
• Low cost, readily available
• Easy to find veterinary care
• 2-3 year lifespan

If you love reptiles, consider our species guides for animals like bearded dragons or leopard geckos - both make excellent, lower-maintenance pets.

Summary: Should You Get a Bush Baby?

Our honest recommendation: No.

While bush babies are legal (currently) and undeniably cute, the reality of ownership rarely matches expectations. The combination of:

• Nocturnal lifestyle (you'll rarely see them active)
• 20-year commitment (outlasting most relationships and careers)
• Specialist care requirements (diet, housing, veterinary)
• New licensing requirements (inspections, standards, costs)
• Ethical concerns (wild animals don't belong in homes)
• Zoonotic disease risks (both directions)

...means this is a decision most keepers eventually regret.

If you're determined to proceed:

1. Research extensively beyond this article
2. Find a vet with primate experience FIRST - search our directory
3. Build your enclosure to 2026 licence standards NOW
4. Budget realistically (£20,000+ lifetime minimum)
5. Contact your local council about future licensing
6. Join primate keeper communities for support

Better options:

For exotic pet enthusiasts, we recommend exploring species that make better pets - animals that are diurnal, easier to care for, and better suited to life as companions.

For questions about UK exotic pet regulations or finding exotic veterinary care, browse our resources. In an emergency, contact your nearest exotic vet immediately.