Primates are not domesticated animals, bred by humans over generations to be companions. They are wild creatures, unfortunate enough to be held captive in unnatural circumstances. However well meaning their human
captors, primates should not be kept as pets. They need the company of their own kind in settings as naturalistic as possible, if they cannot be returned to the wild.
Professor William McGrew
University of Cambridge
Claire Turnbull – Primate Welfare Team
Claire is a Biology graduate, specialising in Conservation and Animal Behaviour. She established her passion for animal welfare at a very young age, volunteering for her local animal shelters and veterinary surgery where she rescued, rehabilitated and released many British wild birds and mammals. She has contributed to the work of various animal charities around the UK and Europe including Scooby Medina, a domestic and farm animal refuge in Spain and Stichting Aap, an exotics rescue centre in Holland. She has also assisted veterinarians in neutering programmes abroad. From 2004-2008 she was employed as an Animal Carer by the Hull Animal Welfare Trust. Between 2007-2009 she volunteered for The Monkey Sanctuary Trust. During this time she also completed an NVQ in animal care and a Trainee Keeper Internship. Claire has spent time working in Cameroon for Ape Action Africa where she rehabilitated primates, primarily chimpanzee orphans of the bushmeat trade. During her time there she also assisted primate behavioural observations in Mefou National Park. She was employed by Wild Futures as part of the Primate Welfare Team in 2009.
