Did you know it’s legal to own a primate in the UK? This surprising reality has significant implications for animal welfare, as many primates are kept in unsuitable conditions. We visited the Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary in Looe to understand the impact of this legal trade and the tireless efforts made by the team to protect and nurture these remarkable animals.
A Sanctuary Committed to Ethical Care:
Wild Futures holds a GFAS accreditation, highlighting its dedication to animal welfare and ethical practice. The sanctuary, which has been operating for six decades adopts a strict non-breeding programme and focuses entirely on the well-being of rescued primates. We spoke with Sarah, the sanctuary’s director, who shed light on the complexities of primate ownership in the UK.
“It’s difficult to accurately determine how many primates are kept as pets in the UK. There’s no central register for ownership, and only certain species require licenses under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act. Through Freedom of Information requests, we gather data, but it’s still unclear—especially for species like marmosets, which don’t need a license.”
Sarah at Monkey Sanctuary
Many primates kept as pets suffer severe physical and psychological damage. Sarah shared the stories of:
- Chanel, a monkey too anxious for public viewing, who grinds her teeth in distress.
- Olly, confiscated after being spotted on the London Underground.
- Mr. Monkey, who was previously walked on a lead.
Despite some owners’ having good intentions, Sarah emphasised that primates are wild animals and unsuited for domestic life.
“We’re working here so that we don’t have jobs anymore. If we had our wish, these animals wouldn’t be here.”
Sadly, the sanctuary’s primates are unable to survive in the wild due to lasting physical and psychological trauma. Instead, the sanctuary provides a natural environment where they can thrive, encouraging wild foraging and behaviours.
Mr Monkey
So, How You Can Help?
Wild Futures relies entirely on donations and fundraising to cover its monthly operating costs of over £60,000. Although closed to visitors during winter, the sanctuary’s volunteers continue their work, ensuring the primates receive daily care despite the colder temperatures.
Volunteer Opportunities
Michelle, volunteer coordinator, shared the importance of a helping hand:
“We welcome volunteers from all walks of life, whether you’re keen to learn more about monkeys, taking a career break, or just looking to make a difference. Some stay long-term, while others help as they can. Right now, we urgently need people with sewing skills to repair our overalls!
Eloise (left) Michelle Volunteer Co-Ordinator (right)
Michelle’s work has revitalised the volunteer programme post-COVID, and the team praised her dedication:
“Michelle has had such a positive impact on the team, reinvigorating the volunteer programme since COVID 19- it’s really great to see!”- Wild Futures Team Member
Volunteers preparing food for monkeys
Other Ways to Support
For those unable to volunteer, Wild Futures offers several ways to contribute:
- Donate building materials or old appliances to support long-term volunteers & enclosure maintenance.
- Provide items from their monkey wishlist, such as shelled nuts, exotic fruits, or KONG toys to enrich the monkeys’ lives. To view the wishlist click here: Monkey Wish List | Wild Futures.
- Adopt a Monkey from £3 per month: Adopt a Monkey – Wild Futures
- Cash Donations and fundraising: Donate Online – Wild Futures Note: Any donation that you make could be DOUBLED for one week only, between 28th November and 5th of December.
For more information on Wild Futures, you can visit their website at: Wild Futures – Protecting Primates for 60 Years. If you’d like to contribute by donating items from their Monkey Wish List, but cannot directly access the sanctuary, donations (excluding appliances) can be dropped off at:
Looe Library & Community Hub in a box/bag marked ‘Wild Futures’ For appliances or other specific donations, please contact the sanctuary directly to arrange delivery.
