The Monkey Sanctuary relies upon the help of volunteers for many things and  could not function without them. Many people who visit or read about the Sanctuary are interested in learning more about the monkeys and about the people who take care of them. Volunteering at the Sanctuary is a great way of doing this.

The Monkey Sanctuary is visited by thirty thousand people every year. These people come to the Sanctuary for the opportunity to meet monkeys and to see them living in a natural colony. A lot of effort goes into providing people with an enjoyable and educational experience. Although volunteers do not work directly with the monkeys, they do help make sure that things run smoothly. In summer volunteers help prepare food for the monkeys, run our shop, help serving in the kiosk, run workshops in the Activity room and help keep the Sanctuary tidy. Longer term volunteers may help at the admission desk or answer visitors’ questions at the enclosures.

In the winter, volunteers help us maintain the house and monkey territory, prepare the monkeys’ food and treats, do street collections, design and make displays, work in the Sanctuary gardens and help with the daily cleaning of the monkey territory. Volunteers with special practical skills have been very important in helping us build new enclosures and improve the monkey territory.

For many volunteers their time at the Sanctuary is their first experience of communal living. The Sanctuary provides volunteers with a chance to become part of the community and to share our commitment to care for the monkeys. You do not need any special skills to become a volunteer, but you need to be over 18 and have a basic knowledge of the English language and a general concern for animals and nature.

If you are interested to know what happens with monkeys, keepers and visitors from behind the scenes, contact the Volunteer Co-ordinator on 01503 262 532, email  volunteer@wildfutures.org for more information or write to (including a SAE):

The Monkey Sanctuary
Looe
Cornwall
PL13 1NZ
UK

The Monkey Sanctuary is proud to be listed in Green Volunteers, the World Guide Database to Voluntary Work in Nature Conservation