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
The Monkey Sanctuary Trust's Work
History of the Monkey Sanctuary
Contact the monkey sanctuary
Support the woolly monkeys
Adopt a woolly or capuchin Monkey
International Adoptions of capuchin monkeys
Donate to help woolly monkeys
Volunteer to help the Monkay Sanctuary
Become a woolly monkey Keeper for the Day
Jobs at the monkey sanctuary
The Monkeys - woolly capuchin
The Bats that live alongside the woolly monkeys
Woolly monkey Rehabilitation Programme
About Woolly Monkeys
About Capuchin Monkeys
Wildzone - all about capuchins and woollies
Monkey Rehabilitation Programme
Monkey Sanctuary Visits and Talks
Monkey Sanctuary - Educational Resources
Sanctuary Links
Latest News and Campaigns about monkeys
Monkey rescue Newsletters
Woolly News Archive
capuchin Campaign Archive
Opening Times at the Sanctuary
Sanctuary Monkeys
Sanctuary bats
Monkey sanctuary shop
Sanctuary house
Sanctuary gardens
Monkey sanctuary Tree Top Cafe
The Monkey Sanctuary will be open on the 22nd of November for its annual Christmas Open Day - Free Entry!
Opening Times 2009
The Monkey Sanctuary will be open from the 25th of October until the 1st November 2009 inclusive - 11am - 4.30pm
Opening Times 2010
The Monkey Sanctuary will reopen for the season on the Sunday before Easter through to the end of September, reopening for Autumn half-term (dates tbc)
Entrance Fees
Our prices for 2009 are as follows:
Adults: £7.50
Children 5-16: £3.50 (children under 5 are free) 
Unwaged, Students and Senior Citizens: £5.00
A family ticket for 2 adults and up to 3 children: £20.00
Wheelchair users: half price
Wheelchair enablers: free
For school classes or other large groups, there are discounts available for advanced group bookings. Please see the Education section of this site, call 01503 262 532 or email education@monkeysanctuary.org for more information.
Please Note:If you have limited mobility or are a wheelchair user please be advised that the grounds are set on a slope and therefore parts of the lower garden and higher viewing areas may be inaccessible. A steep drive approaches the entrance gate so disabled parking is provided just outside the lower gate. If you wish to use this facility please continue down the drive on entering the main car park instead of turning right. If you are concerned about access, please call 01503 262 532 us to discuss your needs.
Toilets for wheelchair users are available in the car park.
Free parking
Our Tree Top Café has the same opening times and is open for vegetarian meals and snacks.
How to find us
From Plymouth: take A38 to the Trerulefoot roundabout (near Tideford) , follow signs to Looe until you see signs for The Monkey Sanctuary
From Liskeard: take A38 towards Plymouth, follow signs to Looe until you see signs for The Monkey Sanctuary
From Looe: head towards Plymouth until you see signs for The Monkey Sanctuary
For those using Satellite Navigation (Sat Nav) to make their way to us, our postcode is PL13 1NZ
Click here to view a map of our location.
Carshare Scheme
Why not pay a visit to the Monkey Sanctuary and use the Careshare Devon scheme. Find out more about the scheme by visiting the website or calling
08700 111199.
Bus Service
We are sorry to announce that from April 2008, there will be no buses running to The Monkey Sanctuary. We will continue to lobby for public transport for our visitors.
Accommodation
If you are looking for accommodation in the Monkey Sanctuary area, please visit the South East Cornwall Tourism Association website.
