Monkey Sanctuary facts for kids
| Date opened | 1964 |
|---|---|
| Location | Looe, Cornwall, England |
| Coordinates | 50°21′55″N 4°24′49″W / 50.3654°N 4.4136°W |
| No. of animals | 36 |
| No. of species | 3 |
| Annual visitors | 30,000 |
The Monkey Sanctuary is a special place in Looe, Cornwall, England. It was started in 1964 by Len Williams, who was the father of famous guitarist John Williams. The sanctuary's main goal is to give a safe home to monkeys that have been rescued.
Today, the sanctuary cares for several types of monkeys. You can find woolly monkeys there, whose families have lived at the sanctuary for a long time. There are also many capuchin monkeys and Barbary macaques. These monkeys were rescued from the pet trade in the UK. This means they were once kept as pets, which is often not good for them. The monkeys live in large, natural-looking areas that visitors can see during the summer.
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What is the Monkey Sanctuary?
The Monkey Sanctuary is a home for rescued monkeys. It was set up in 1964 to help monkeys that needed a safe place to live. Many of the monkeys here were once kept as pets. But monkeys need special care and lots of space, which most homes cannot provide.
Who Lives at the Sanctuary?
The sanctuary is home to about 36 monkeys from three different species:
- Woolly Monkeys: These monkeys are descendants of the first monkeys rescued by the sanctuary.
- Capuchin Monkeys: Many of these monkeys have been rescued from the pet trade in the UK.
- Barbary Macaques: A small group of these monkeys also lives at the sanctuary after being rescued.
The monkeys live in big enclosures. These areas are designed to be as natural as possible. This helps the monkeys feel safe and happy. You can visit the sanctuary during the summer months to see them.
The Bat Cave and Other Wildlife
Besides monkeys, the sanctuary is also home to other amazing animals. In the cellar of Murrayton House, a building from the 1800s, lives a colony of rare lesser horseshoe bats. Murrayton House is also the visitors' centre.
Observing the Bats
You can watch these bats without disturbing them. There is a special room called the "bat cave." In this room, you can see live video from an infrared camera. This camera is set up in the cellar where the bats live. It lets you see what the bats are doing, even in the dark!
Wild Futures: Helping Primates Worldwide
The Monkey Sanctuary is a big part of a charity called Wild Futures. Wild Futures (UK registered Charity number 1102532) works hard to protect primates. Primates are a group of animals that includes monkeys, apes, and humans.
What Does Wild Futures Do?
Wild Futures has several important goals:
- Protecting Primates: They work to improve the lives of primates. This includes making sure they are safe and healthy.
- Ending the Pet Trade: They campaign to stop the trade of primates as pets. This is because keeping primates as pets often causes them harm.
- Educating People: They teach visitors, schools, and other groups about primates. They explain the problems primates face, both in captivity and in the wild.
- Supporting Conservation: Wild Futures also helps with efforts to protect wild animals and their homes around the world. This is called conservation.
By visiting the Monkey Sanctuary, you help Wild Futures continue its important work.
