Monkey Sanctuary Trust is a unique environmental charity dedicated to:

Woolly monkey welfare, including the welfare, conservation and survival of primates, particularly woolly monkeys and capuchin monkeys.
Capuchin monkey welfare, including Working to end the primate and monkey trade and abuse of primates and monkeys in captivity.
Conserving natural habitats of woolly and capuchin monkeys through education and sustainable living.
monkey rescue, including promoting the rehabilitation of rescued woolly and capuchin monkeys and primates to natural habitats.

Woolly Monkey - what is it?

The woolly monkey (lagothrix lagothricha) is one of the largest and most beautiful of the South American primates. They live in the middle and upper Amazon basin to the west of the rivers Negro and Tapajos. There are four recognised sub-species of woolly monkey. These are mountain or long-haired woolly monkey (lagothrix lagothricha lugens), the brown woolly monkey (lagothrix lagothricha poepiggii), the grey woolly monkey (lagothrix lagothricha cana) and the brown-headed woolly monkey (lagothrix lagothricha lagothricha).

Woolly monkeys are arboreal (meaning tree-dwelling), spending most of their time high in the canopy of the trees and rarely venturing to the forest floor.

Woolly monkeys have evolved in a way which enables them to exploit this tree-top niche, to travel easily along narrow limbs, to reach nuts, seedpods and fruits at the end of branches, to leap between gaps safely and even to sleep securely 150 feet above the ground.

Capuchin Monkey - what is it?

Capuchins were named after capuchin monks because the dark fur that forms a cap on their heads and extends down in 'side-burns' resembles the cowl or headdress of the capuchin priests.

Capuchin monkeys are one of the most intelligent and adaptable of all South American primates. The first capuchins (Cebus species) appeared 16.3 million years ago in South America and, like all monkeys capuchin monkeys share about 97% of their DNA with humans. All capuchin species are neotropical, in other words capuchin monkeys are mainly found in northern and central South America. Within this range only the howler monkey is as widespread, and the black-capped capuchin or tufted capuchin has the widest distribution of any new world monkey, as capuchin monkeys are found in every South American country except Uruguay and Chile.

Monkey Sanctuary Trust is based at The Monkey Sanctuary in Looe, Cornwall, UK. The Monkey Sanctuary is home to a social colony of Woolly monkeys and a group of rescued ex-pet Capuchin monkeys. The Trust provides advice and support for primate, woolly and capuchin monkey rescue centres and sanctuaries around the world.

Each year the Monkey Sanctuary Trust educates thousands of visitors on monkey life in the wild and in captivity, on the ethics and problems of captivity for woolly monkeys, about ideas for rehabilitation as well as other animal welfare and conservation issues for woolly and capuchin monkeys.

Monkey Sanctuary Trust Home page

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The Monkeys - woolly capuchin

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About Woolly Monkeys

About Capuchin Monkeys

Wildzone - all about capuchins and woollies

Monkey Rehabilitation Programme

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Autumn 2000

Harry was blind!

Harry, a six-year-old woolly monkey at the Sanctuary, developed diabetes related cataracts about a year ago. His sudden blindness left him vulnerable and disorientated. Since early June Harry has had to be separated from the other adult males in the group. His only hope was to remove the cataracts, because the alternative, a life on his own away from his group and family, was not a viable option.

In surgery In June and July, The Monkey Sanctuary launched an appeal to raise the money to restore Harry's eyesight, which we estimated to cost around £3000 including operation, transport, medication, after-care etc. The response was overwhelming.

In the early hours of Monday 31st July along with his vet and three keepers, Harry was driven from Cornwall to The London Veterinary Hospital. Upon arrival, Harry was anaesthetised in preparation for the 3 hour long microsurgery. Peter Bradford, his surgeon, was pleased with the outcome of the operation, so as soon as Harry regained consciousness, he as able to return home to recover.

Harry had to be kept in a darkened room under 4-hour supervision by his keepers for ten days, so as to avoid sunlight whilst his eyes healed. Thankfully, he was very patient and tolerant, but after ten days in the dark, he was getting really fed up and finally was let out of his small cage. This was amazing to watch! He climbed quickly up the ropes, exploring all the corners of the room. There was no longer any doubt that he could see! Murray, another young male, joined him that same day and they were very happy to see each other. Harry has now, 6 weeks after his operation, been re-introduced to all the other monkeys in turn. Two of the males were very domineering and he has only been in with them for short periods so far. But soon we hope to let the whole group back together so that Harry can resume his old life within the colony.

Diabetes

As well as removing the cataracts we also need to treat the cause of his blindness, the diabetes itself. He has been trained to receive two insulin injections a day, which he patiently endures in exchange for a grape - the monkeys' favourite treat. Harry's diabetes will be treated for the rest of his life at a cost of £40 a month. Any help you can give us towards these costs (email Alex at info@monkeysanctuary.org) will be greatly appreciated.