Wild Futures', The Monkey Sanctuary
What?
Wild Futures, The Monkey Sanctuary is a UK based rescue centre for primates who have fallen victim to the exotic pet-trade. Wild Futures started out as simply The Monkey Sanctuary in 1964. The first residents of The Monkey Sanctuary were woolly monkeys' (Lagothrix) who were offered refuge after being rescued from the pet-trade in the UK. Here, the initial five monkeys were established as a group. With the hard work of Leonard Williams (Founder) and Colleagues, The Monkey Sanctuary became the first colony of woolly monkeys ever to breed successfully and survive outside their native habitat of South America.
If you have further interests about the history of The Monkey Sanctuary, 'The Woolly Monkey: A social study from The Monkey Sanctuary, Looe, Cornwall' is an informative and delightful read about the first Woolly Monkey colony at The Monkey Sanctuary.
As it grew, The Monkey Sanctuary brought their conservation driven breeding programme for the woolly monkeys to a halt as research highlighted the complexities of rehabilitating and releasing ex-pet primates into the wild. With a determination to continue rescuing primates from the increasingly popular trade of the pet-trade, The Monkey Sanctuary became a flagship project of Wild Futures'. The sanctuary no longer practices an active breeding programme due to beliefs that the remaining wild animals and their habitats should be preserved rather than breeding more primates into captivity.
The Sanctuary now houses 4 species of primate, Woolly Monkeys, Capuchins, Marmosets and Barbary Macaques. With a strict no-breeding policy, the sanctuary can focus heavily on providing the best 'forever homes' to the primates already in their care.
Wild Futures', The Monkey Sanctuary is located in rural Looe, Cornwall. The grounds house all species of primate as well as provided home to wild UK species.
To find out more about other work Wild Futures, The Monkey Sanctuary does visit their website at: https://www.wildfutures.org
Volunteer Experience
Someone who wishes to contribute to the work of Wild Futures' and volunteer at the sanctuary can be sure to experience a wide range of activities. Most volunteers provide help to the keepers on the morning Capuchin Routine. Here, volunteers will help clean indoor and outdoor enclosures, as well as watering and feeding the capuchins through scatter feeding techniques. Most importantly volunteers will take part in creating enrichment for the groups of capuchins on site. This is a worth while experience for volunteers to appreciate the procedure the Sanctuary practices to ensure high standards of hygiene and welfare for the primates onsite.
Volunteers will take part in education and maintenance work at The Monkey Sanctuary as well as caring for the primates.
Curious female capuchin watches while volunteers clean, scatter fresh food and place enrichment into her heated indoor home.
Creating enrichment is an essential role for volunteers who visit The Monkey Sanctuary and everyone is encouraged to think outside the box when creating their enrichment for all primates. Volunteers will also experience the full running of the sanctuary. Activities may include taking part in kids activities with visitors, such as face painting and drawing, providing hospitality in the sanctuaries cafe or helping out with some well needed maintenance around the sanctuary grounds.
What is Enrichment?
Enrichment is a way we can enhance the quality of life for the animals in our care... Enrichment can stimulate a primates sense of smell, touch, or/and taste. Enrichment also encourages animals to express natural behaviours if constructed thoughtfully.
If you would like further information about volunteer opportunities visit: https://www.wildfutures.org/get-involved/volunteer/
