Into the Trees! Monkey Sanctuary opens its new habitats for unwanted pet primates

Following a £14,000 donation from IFAW (The International Fund for Animal Welfare; www.ifaw.co.uk), the specialist primate Sanctuary funded the development of new indoor and outdoor habitats.  Built alongside the existing woolly monkey structures, the new interlinked enclosures and the spacious outdoor enclosure for the capuchins, will provide stimulating, varied environments - enriching the lives of the rescued animals.
 
“The rescue centre extension allows us to link the capuchin territory to a roofless enclosure containing mature beech trees. These monkeys have spent their lives so far in barren cages or garden sheds, so it’s wonderful to watch them exploring their expanded world and enjoying the company of others of their own kind. The IFAW grant has helped us make a huge step forward in our rescue programme.” said Campaigns Officer and Capuchin Keeper, Gill Maltby.  
 
Amanda Gent, spokesperson for IFAW, said: “We have been involved in the expansion plans since their inception and are delighted to now be able to see the final finished enclosures.  IFAW was happy to be able to help more of these vulnerable monkeys, which are often kept in unsuitable conditions by their inexperienced owners. "
 
"In an ideal world there wouldn't be a need to rescue and house these animals, but to achieve this people need to stop thinking of monkeys as suitable pets.  All primates are essentially wild animals which do not belong in human homes.  The trade in primates for the pet industry also threatens species in the wild as it is effectively draining the forests of monkeys."
 
A further blow to the fight against keeping primates as pets came just days ago when a relaxation in UK legislation removed the requirement for owners to purchase licences for certain species being kept as pets.  Whilst capuchin and woolly monkeys still need licences, many species of monkey can now be kept without a licence making them more appealing to potential owners.
 
The Monkey Sanctuary Trust and IFAW are both calling for a halt to the unnecessary trade in all monkeys who are being sold as pets in the UK.  It is believed that there could be over 3000 primates, which are being kept in unsuitable conditions as pets around the country.* 
 
Notes to editors:

In their natural habitat, many primates spend the majority of their life leaping through trees, living in large social groups, some with ranges of hundreds of hectares. It is very unlikely that a private owner could ever replicate this environment.
 
Conservationists fear that of the 625 species of wild primates, one in four may become extinct in the next 20 years. It is believed that the international pet trade exacerbates this problem by fuelling illegal poaching.
 
About The Monkey Sanctuary Trust:
 
The Monkey Sanctuary Trust is a unique environmental charity dedicated to promoting the welfare and conservation of primates. They are based at The Monkey Sanctuary in Looe, Cornwall, which is open to visitors Thursday to Sunday, 11am - 4pm, during the summer and at autumn half term.
 
* IFAW report, Born to be Wild: Primates are not Pets, 2005

For media-related inquiries, contact:

Amanda Gent
IFAW Press Office
agent@ifaw.org
+44 (0)20 7587 6765
monkeysanctuary.org
ifaw.org