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.

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Wildzone - all about capuchins and woollies

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Autumn 2003

Coco & Chanel arrive

September brought the arrival of two more capuchins. We first heard about the plight of Coco (male) and Chanel (female) in the autumn of 2002, when they were confiscated by the RSPCA and West Midlands Safari Park, because their owner had been keeping them without a Dangerous Wild Animals Licence. During an eighth month ownership battle between their owner and the local council, they were confined to a tiny indoor cage. Finally, it was decided that the two young monkeys should come and live here at the Monkey Sanctuary.

Coco and Chanel confined in tiny indoor cage Since their arrival, they have begun a new life. It took a little while for them to get used to their new healthy diet of fruit, vegetables, mealworms and they are still struggling to crack hazel and brazil nuts. They are clearly enjoying the large enclosures and daily enrichment, however the most stimulating change for them is to be around other monkeys of their own kind. They are both still young, at about six years old, and are learning from the more mature group of three capuchins already living at the rescue centre at The Monkey Sanctuary. Over the last week we have been introducing them to the other members of the group. Coco has spent three stimulating days mixing with Peppy and Gary, our two weeper capuchins. He is very excited about spending time with Peppy, and tries to include him in his adolescent games. It is hoped that Peppy can be a strong role model for him in the future. Chanel has been enjoying the attention of bachelor males, from whom there is much to be learned.

Having spent much of their lives away from other monkeys, in less suitable surroundings, their progress will be slow, however we hope that they can now look forward to rich and fulfilling social lives at the Monkey Sanctuary. Coco and Channel are two of the lucky ones, there are still hundreds of primates living in unsuitable conditions in the UK. The Monkey Sanctuary Trust is working towards a ban on the trade in primates as pets to be included in the new Animal Welfare Bill, which is currently under consultation.