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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Spring 2001
Frosty
Frosty is a nine-year-old black cap Capuchin monkey. He lives in a small cage at an agricultural college in 
Norfolk and has been alone since the death of his mate and their small infant. The owners have agreed that Frosty would benefit from coming to live at The Monkey Sanctuary and The Monkey Sanctuary Trust is currently raising money to build him an enclosure.
Frosty's arrival will be a turning point for The Monkey Sanctuary. He will be the first non-woolly monkey to be rescued and it is likely that he will form the nucleus of a social group. There are still many capuchin monkeys in captivity in poor conditions in Britain and The Sanctuary is now in a position to offer a permanent home to a number of them. A new capuchin territory has been designed. It will be large enough to accommodate a number of monkeys in individual enclosures, with the opportunity for them to gradually establish.
We hope to be ready to receive Frosty this summer. Timing depends on how quickly we can raise the funds needed for the construction of the enclosures. Any donations to The Monkey Sanctuary Trust will speed his arrival and be most gratefully received.
Into the Trees
The new 'monkey-proof' fence was completed in February. It is linked via three long runways to the main monkey territory and encircles a large area of garden containing two mature beech trees. All of the monkeys have access to this area and it has proved to be a huge success, particularly for the adult male monkeys who were not previously able to explore the gardens.
The extra space helps reduce stress and tension amongst the monkeys as they now have a much larger area in which to spread out and avoid each other if they choose. They have the opportunity to forage for leaves and insects throughout the wide variety of vegetation on the ground and whilst climbing the large trees.
The enclosure is criss-crossed with a web of ropes enabling the monkeys to travel in their natural manner - above the ground and making full use of their prehensile tails.
'The Trees' also provides visitors with a wonderful opportunity to view monkeys foraging, climbing and interacting as a natural social colony.
Siglo XXI
The Siglo XXI primate rescue centre in Chile goes from strength to strength. It now houses about sixty primates, all victims of the pet trade. The centre is run by the Almazan family who work tirelessly and without financial support to care for the monkeys and to campaign against the cruelty and waste of the illegal pet trade.
Throughout the project's existence The Monkey Sanctuary Trust has provided help and advice and is now committed to raising funds to enable the centre to expand and improve.
Two keepers and an ex volunteer have spent time at the centre in Chile, helping to care for the monkeys and we aim to provide continuous support at the site. Lorena Almazan visited the Monkey Sanctuary for two months last winter and gained valuable experience.
The Almazans need to purchase more land if their centre is to continue to provide Sanctuary for abused primates, but at present funds are very limited.
