International Primate Protection League (UK)

In the tropical range states, young victims of the bushmeat and timber trades are often handed to village children as living toys.  The outreach education programmes established by some sanctuaries have changed attitudes and have often resulted in the donation of orphaned infant animals.  In some areas there is an ongoing need to relocate crop-raiding species to safer locations.

Many governments will not enforce protective legislation if there is no location ready to receive confiscated animals.

In brief, the essential roles played by successful sanctuaries will include:

1. Skilled care, suitable diet and an enriched quality of life for the animal guests.
2. Access to veterinary guidance and treatment as occasion demands.
3. Where practicable, public education in welfare, conservation and ecological balance.

Whether in prosperous regions, or in wildlife range-states, all sanctuaries have to rely upon private funding to provide for the essential needs of their monkey charges.  It is seldom indeed that official funding is made available to support this important public service.

Primates are long-lived animals, with life spans from 20 to 45 years and cannot, in the UK, be returned to the wild.  They can be very demanding of time and care.  It takes skill and patience to rehabilitate badly reared monkeys, whilst retaining their trust.  All this whilst coping with planning restrictions, inspections and licensing, costly insurance, veterinary fees and cautious neighbours.  Sanctuaries exercise limited selection over their range of residents.  Their purpose is to help animals in trouble.

IPPL is proud to have pioneered provision of practical assistance and encouragement to primate sanctuaries.