The Monkey Sanctuary  

Wild Futures

Wild Futures is an environmental charity dedicated to promoting the welfare, conservation and survival of primates and their habitat worldwide. 
Wild Futures works to end the trade in primates and abuse of primates in captivity, promoting the rehabilitation of captive primates and the preservation of those in the wild. Wild Futures operates a sanctuary for the conservation, preservation and welfare of primates and welcomes visitors to this site each year from Easter until the end of September.  The Monkey Sanctuary rescue centre is located in Cornwall and is also the present base of Wild Futures as an organisation.
Wild Futures is a registered charity in the UK (No 1102532)

 The Monkey Sanctuary, Cornwall
An Intimate Insight into a Working Sanctuary

The Monkey Sanctuary is situated in beautiful woodlands overlooking Looe Bay in south east Cornwall. The Sanctuary is run by Wild Futures.
The Monkey Sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates primate victims of the pet trade and entertainment industries. The Sanctuary takes in rescues and works to integrate those primates into suitable social groupings so that they can enjoy a stimulating and safe social life. The Monkey Sanctuary operates a non-breeding policy for all the rescues in its care in the understanding that captivity is not an ideal state for primates.
The Monkey Sanctuary is an educational site where visitors can learn about the perils that face primates in the wild and in captivity, but also learn about what fascinating primate relatives humans have!

Recently the Monkey Sanctuary opened its doors to two new species of monkey from the 'Old World'; Barbary macaques and patas monkeys. Until 2008 all residents of the Monkey Sanctuary had been from the 'New World' (the Americas) but now, due to the need of the primates in question, the Monkey Sanctuary took in old world monkeys (from Africa/Asisa), building new enclosures and taking on more staff to cope with the needs of these monkeys.

The Monkey Sanctuary draws on over 40 years of experience in caring for rescued primates and prides itself on the quality of this care and the consideration of the monkeys as individuals.

The Pet Trade and other pressures on Primates

Habitat destruction and hunting for bushmeat (wild caught meats) both support the trade in primates as pets, as baby monkeys that are captured during hunting for meat in the rainforests are usually sold into the pet trade, being too small to bring in a good price if sold for meat.  Hunting from the wild has become a huge ecological problem for all primates living wild, and with the greater avaliablilty of weapons and the lack of regulation or enforcement on illegal hunting, the trades in bushmeat and pets are becoming serious threats to the survival of many species of our closest relatives.

What We Do

The Monkey Sanctuary rescues primates primarily from the UK pet trade. It is still legal in the UK to own a monkey as a pet if a proper license is owned. Primates however are social and intelligent creatures who suffer greatly from the lack of stimulation, lack of social companionship and lack of proper space and understanding that life as a pet primate has to offer.

Case Study: Joey
 Joey is a ten year old male black-capped capuchin living now at the Monkey Sanctuary in Cornwall. Joey was wild-caught and shipped over from south America to become a pet. He was moved into a flat in London and lived in a cage that measured 6ft/3ft/3ft for nine years. He came out of that cage for an hour a day. With lack of exercise and space, a poor diet and no access to natural sunlight, Joey's bones developed abnormally and now, as an adult, he is permanently disabled from his time as a pet. Joey suffers from weak bones, a curved, fused spine that impairs his movements, two dislocated hips (with so little pelvic bone apparent that specialists are unable to mend this disability), immature teeth growth and stunted growth. Joey will proably suffer from conditions such as osteroporosis and arthritus in later life and also suffers from some psycological damage from his time as a pet. Joey was rescued when his owner abandoned him, leaving him with only the company of a TV which was switched on to mute, in front of him all day.
Joey's story is shocking, but details of his case are common to many rescues that the Monkey Sanctuary has undertaken.

Primates that are kept in unsuitable conditions, developing psycological and physical disorders and becoming increasingly aggressive are common stories for our rescued primates. Wild Futures belives that the most suitable place for primates is in the wild, in their natural habitats. Those rescues living at the Monkey Sanctuary will never be suitable for re-release due to the psycological and physical disabilities they have incurred. Wild Futures works to give its rescued residents a safe and stimulating life, and campaigns to end the trade in primates as pets; to try to stop more primates living a life like Joey's was.

Joey now lives with another male capuchin called Kodak and the two are great friends. Despite Joey's numerous disabilities, he lives an active and happy life with social companionship, plenty of space, a good diet, specialist adaptations that he needs to get around his enclosures easily and a team of dedicated and experienced keepers and staff to care for him. Joey and others like him have had a terrible start to life, but with your help, we can give them the best life possible. 

Wild Futures works with organisations in South America and other countries working to try and stop the trades in primates at its roots and protect primates in their natural habitats. Wild Futures  supports educational programmes in the UK and overseas, as it is our belief that only through education can progress be made in conservation.

Conservation of habitats is not only a concern in South America. Closer to home, the Monkey Sanctuary promotes the protection of native species by devoting a large portion of its land to a wildlife garden. Here we create habitats for local species such as the rare lesser horseshoe bat and pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly.

By opening the doors of the Monkey Sanctuary to over 30,000 visitors each year, we are able to share our experience of caring for primates, conserving the environment and living sustainably. Keepers and other staff are on hand all through the open season to talk personally with visitors, offering an intimate insight into a working primate sanctuary. The Monkey Sanctuary also regularly gives talks to schools and local interest groups, supports research projects, works closely with other sanctuaries and offers advice and assistance to other organisations in the UK and overseas. The work of Wild Futures is funded by the support of the public; by opening the Monkey Sanctuary to visitors during the summer season, through Gift Aid and donations and through our on-site gift shop and cafe. Wild Futures also raises money through donation, our on-line gift shop and other fundraising initiatives. 

Wild Futures relies on the generosity of its supporters from all walks of life; with the help of people like you, we can give our rescued monkeys the best life possible and, work to make sure that primates and their habitats are protected, worldwide. 

All proceeds from The Monkey Sanctuary online  shop goes straight back into supporting the work of Wild Futures and the  Monkey Sanctuary . Everything and anything you buy from our shop will help the work of Wild Futures.

Thank you for your support  and enjoy your shopping!