Monkey Sanctuary Trust is a unique environmental charity dedicated to:

Woolly monkey welfare, including the welfare, conservation and survival of primates, particularly woolly monkeys and capuchin monkeys.
Capuchin monkey welfare, including Working to end the primate and monkey trade and abuse of primates and monkeys in captivity.
Conserving natural habitats of woolly and capuchin monkeys through education and sustainable living.
monkey rescue, including promoting the rehabilitation of rescued woolly and capuchin monkeys and primates to natural habitats.

Woolly Monkey - what is it?

The woolly monkey (lagothrix lagothricha) is one of the largest and most beautiful of the South American primates. They live in the middle and upper Amazon basin to the west of the rivers Negro and Tapajos. There are four recognised sub-species of woolly monkey. These are mountain or long-haired woolly monkey (lagothrix lagothricha lugens), the brown woolly monkey (lagothrix lagothricha poepiggii), the grey woolly monkey (lagothrix lagothricha cana) and the brown-headed woolly monkey (lagothrix lagothricha lagothricha).

Woolly monkeys are arboreal (meaning tree-dwelling), spending most of their time high in the canopy of the trees and rarely venturing to the forest floor.

Woolly monkeys have evolved in a way which enables them to exploit this tree-top niche, to travel easily along narrow limbs, to reach nuts, seedpods and fruits at the end of branches, to leap between gaps safely and even to sleep securely 150 feet above the ground.

Capuchin Monkey - what is it?

Capuchins were named after capuchin monks because the dark fur that forms a cap on their heads and extends down in 'side-burns' resembles the cowl or headdress of the capuchin priests.

Capuchin monkeys are one of the most intelligent and adaptable of all South American primates. The first capuchins (Cebus species) appeared 16.3 million years ago in South America and, like all monkeys capuchin monkeys share about 97% of their DNA with humans. All capuchin species are neotropical, in other words capuchin monkeys are mainly found in northern and central South America. Within this range only the howler monkey is as widespread, and the black-capped capuchin or tufted capuchin has the widest distribution of any new world monkey, as capuchin monkeys are found in every South American country except Uruguay and Chile.

Monkey Sanctuary Trust is based at The Monkey Sanctuary in Looe, Cornwall, UK. The Monkey Sanctuary is home to a social colony of Woolly monkeys and a group of rescued ex-pet Capuchin monkeys. The Trust provides advice and support for primate, woolly and capuchin monkey rescue centres and sanctuaries around the world.

Each year the Monkey Sanctuary Trust educates thousands of visitors on monkey life in the wild and in captivity, on the ethics and problems of captivity for woolly monkeys, about ideas for rehabilitation as well as other animal welfare and conservation issues for woolly and capuchin monkeys.

Monkey Sanctuary Trust Home page

The Monkey Sanctuary Trust's Work

History of the Monkey Sanctuary

Contact the monkey sanctuary

Support the woolly monkeys

Adopt a woolly or capuchin Monkey

International Adoptions of capuchin monkeys

Donate to help woolly monkeys

Volunteer to help the Monkay Sanctuary

Become a woolly monkey Keeper for the Day

Jobs at the monkey sanctuary

The Monkeys - woolly capuchin

The Bats that live alongside the woolly monkeys

Woolly monkey Rehabilitation Programme

About Woolly Monkeys

About Capuchin Monkeys

Wildzone - all about capuchins and woollies

Monkey Rehabilitation Programme

Monkey Sanctuary Visits and Talks

Monkey Sanctuary - Educational Resources

Sanctuary Links

Trust wins Gold Environmental Award

The Monkey Sanctuary in Looe has just been awarded a Gold rating for its commitment to sustainable tourism by the nationally recognized Green Tourism Business Awards Scheme.

The Green Tourism Business Awards Scheme started in 1997 and is the leading sustainable tourism certification scheme in the UK with over 1,400 members.

Businesses are assessed by a qualified grading advisor against a set of criteria, covering a range of areas such as energy, water, waste management, biodiversity etc. Accreditation rewards tourism operators that demonstrate these environmental management practices and community support, with a gold, silver or bronze award.

After an afternoon at the Sanctuary the GTBS assessor said:

“The Monkey Sanctuary Trust achieves a Gold award due to management and staff commitment to excellent environmental practice. The site is particularly strong in purchasing, waste minimisation and wildlife & landscape.”

The Monkey Sanctuary is situated in beautiful woodlands overlooking Looe Bay in the south east of Cornwall. The Sanctuaries work concentrates on the continued care of a Woolly Monkey colony and the rescue and rehabilitation of ex pet Capuchin monkeys. The Sanctuary also encourages native wildlife and biodiversity, the gardens are managed for wildlife and are home to many exciting plant and animal species including Lesser Horseshoe Bats and Pearl Boarded Fritillary Butterfly.

Visitors can eat at the award winning veggie café and buy gifts from the ethically sourced, animal friendly gift shop. The Monkey Sanctuary Trust agrees with the principles of sustainable development and wherever possible incorporates it into the management of the Sanctuary.

Matt Nott the Sustainability Officer at the Monkey Sanctuary Trust said:

”Looe and the surrounding area is a beautiful and inspiring environment full of wildlife and wonderful coastal landscape. This is why it’s important that tourism works in harmony with its environment.”

With hundreds of accredited businesses, the South West of England now has higher coverage with the GTBS than anywhere else in England. If your looking for a “greener” day out or and environmentally friendly place to stay then visit www.green-business.co.uk.