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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The Monkeys - woolly capuchin

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Wildzone - all about capuchins and woollies

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Into the Trees! Monkey Sanctuary Trust and IFAW unveil new enclosures

On 18 October 2007 The Monkey Sanctuary Trust officially unveiled its expanded enclosures which enabled us to rescue six abandoned pet monkeys.

Following a £14,000 donation from The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the Sanctuary built several 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 were not included, many species of monkey can now be kept without the need for expensive licences 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.