Meet the Capuchin Monkeys
Banjo was born at an Animal Care College as the first of four youngsters, who were re-homed here at Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary in 2012. Banjo’s mum was a high ranking member of the group and so Banjo inherited his position from her. He is a naturally confident young male who already shows a great interest in group politics. Banjo’s life is all about games and fun with little sister Roccita.
Betty is a member of the Sanctuary’s only natural family group of capuchins, who arrived here at The Monkey Sanctuary in March 2012. Despite being a low-ranking member of the group, Betty is good friends with high-ranking group member Sue. Betty is very smart and she knows how to catch the eye of her carers at feeding times to ensure that she doesn’t lose out on any treats!
Billy arrived at Wild Futures’ Monkey Sanctuary in January 2012. He is a very quick learner, and is also very brave and very friendly. Not self pitying, when told off by the other monkeys he doesn’t sulk but patiently waits to be able to play again. Billy still has a lot to learn about being a monkey and is always looking for reassurance from the older monkeys. But he has great potential and will hopefully one day become a kind and successful member of the group.
Boo Boo (or Boo for short!) was living in a family’s garden until she was rescued by The Monkey Sanctuary. Boo has settled well into her social group here at The Monkey Sanctuary, making great friends with many fellow capuchin monkeys. Boo Boo has a well-known food call among all the monkeys at the Sanctuary, and she is often the first to let everyone know that food is on its way!
Chanel was taken from her mother as a tiny baby and kept as a pet with another monkey named Coco. On arrival here at The Monkey Sanctuary, Chanel was underweight and frightened. Chanel has since improved physically and psychologically and she now flourishes with the specialist care she receives. Her friend Coco has since passed away, but she now lives happily in a social group and has formed a very strong bond with Gucci.
Elvis is an adult male in the Sanctuary’s first and only natural family group of capuchins. He and his family arrived at our Sanctuary in 2012 from an animal care college. Despite his size, Elvis is a gentle giant in many ways and often lets the his son, Banjo, take control of disciplining the group. Although he lives in his own social group, he also loves to chat to his monkey neighbours.
Gizzie arrived at our Sanctuary in 2010 after being kept as a pet in a breeze-block outbuilding for many years. She just loves to snuggle up inside a cosy heated room in winter, but she also enjoys sunbathing and foraging in the greenery when the weather is warmer. She has a strong bond with her daughter Kiwi and she doesn’t really care for humans, unless there is a chance of a grape reward!
Gucci arrived at the Sanctuary in 2011. Gucci has a cleft lip and palate, so it is likely that her mother didn’t receive the appropriate nutrition whilst pregnant with Gucci. Due to having been deprived of a natural social life, she can be an introvert character. She loves new toys and despite her insecurities, her social skills have improved. She has also managed to form a strong friendship with her buddy Chanel!
Jackie was initially thought to be a male and was sold into the pet trade by a zoo. When her previous owner contacted us to take her on, Jackie’s first change in her new life was a name change from Jacko to Jackie! Due to a poor diet she developed type 2 diabetes and needs daily medication to control her condition. She settled in fantastically well and is now the much respected alpha female of a small group of capuchins.
Kiwi arrived at our sanctuary in 2010 after being kept as a pet in a breeze-block outbuilding for many years with her mother, Gizzie and friend, Grips. After just a few weeks of specialist care, her natural surroundings have allowed her natural behaviours to blossom; she loves involving herself in the monkey politics of neighboring monkey groups and can often be found shouting support across the enclosures!
Morwella arrived at the Sanctuary in March 2012. Morwella has spent around 25 years as a pet, and is now enjoying life with her new monkey friends. She has settled into her group extremely well and it is Morwella who is always quick to initiate and show solidarity with her group members – against the carers! We have discovered her to be a real character in possession of a true wild spirit – despite her long life as a pet!
Mr Monkey is a little ball of energy! A hybrid-breed capuchin monkey rescued when his owners emigrated to Portugal and were unable to take Mr Monkey, as Portugal, unlike the UK, has outlawed the keeping of primates as pets. He now leads an active social life and we hope to introduce more rescued capuchins to his social group so that Mr Monkey will have more friends to play around with!
Olly was born into the primate pet trade in 2014 and came to live at the sanctuary in March 2019. Not a lot of his past is known but we do know that he was seen being taken on the London Underground on a lead by a concerned member of the public. Thankfully, they reported what they saw, which lead to Olly being confiscated. He began his new life at Wild Future’s Monkey Sanctuary as a low-ranking individual, but he shows huge potential to mature into a strong adult male who could rise up the ranks in time!
Roccita was born at an Animal Care College, to parents Sue and Elvis, and was initially named Roccy as she was thought to be male. When the family group arrived at the Sanctuary in March 2012, Roccita was still nursing from, and often riding on the back of, her mother Sue. Growing up in a group with other youngsters has taught Roccita a huge number of essential social skills. We are looking forward to see how her personality further develops.
Tam was born in 1996 and was sold into the pet trade, along with his brother, when he was still an infant. Sadly, Tam’s brother died some years ago and he was left living on his own. Tam now enjoys having access to large, natural enclosures and has built up lots of trust in his carers. He has settled into a stable social group and loves to copy what the other monkeys are doing and follows them around everywhere.