Monkey Sanctuary

Monkey Sanctuary

The Monkey Sanctuary is situated in beautiful woodlands overlooking Looe Bay in south east Cornwall. For many years the Sanctuary was dedicated to one species, the Amazonian woolly monkey, and was the first place in the world where these monkeys bred successfully outside of their native habitat. The Sanctuary now practices a non-breeding policy implemented by administering a contraceptive pill to the females.


In the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s woolly monkeys were considered by many to be an exotic and desirable pet. Thousands were taken from their home in the forests of Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador, and brought to this country either for the pet trade or to be exhibits in zoos.

In the 1950s Leonard Williams, who had for some time been a keen visitor to zoos, had his first meeting with a woolly monkey, which left a deep and lasting impression on him. Some years later, in the midst of a busy life as a musician and head of the Spanish Guitar School in London, Len and his wife, June, began to keep woolly monkeys as pets in their home in Chislehurst, after being bequeathed one in a will.


By 1964 the needs of the colony had grown and the Williams family and keeper, Sue Rickard, abandoned London for the Cornish countryside. At Murrayton, large indoor rooms were converted for monkeys and an outdoor enclosure built, connected to two magnificent beech trees by a tower and ropes. Len began to appeal to pet owners and zoos to give their monkeys to the Sanctuary in order to let them have a chance of a more fulfilled life, and thus a number of ex-pet and zoo monkeys joined the group in the early years.

The Monkey Sanctuary offers a stimulating learning experience about primates in captivity – but also of how they would be living in the wild. There are experienced keepers sharing their primate knowledge with you face-to-face throughout the day, there is a brand new interactive display room onsite as well as information about various primate topics, particularly on how we can all help to protect and conserve primates in the wild. The Sanctuary is home to a colony of woolly monkeys and a growing number of ex-pet capuchins.

Sanctuary Gardens:
Sheltered and surrounded by Beech and Sycamore woodland, the gardens are situated on a south-facing slope overlooking Looe bay and have through the years been divided into different areas to attract various species of plants and animals. Displays around the colourful gardens tell more about the plants in the different areas, which animals can be found there and why.


VISITORS INFORMATION:

Opening Times:
11.00am - 4.30pm every Sunday - Thursday (closed Friday and Saturday)
From 28th March - 30th September 2010 (plus October half-term)