Sir David Attenborough marvels at the clever capuchins at Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary
Sir David Attenborough visited the Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary to film a piece for his latest series ‘Natural Curiosities’, with Humble Bee Films, which will go out on television early next year. Leading primate welfare and conservation charity, Wild Futures, is celebrating 50 years of its rescue and rehabilitation centre, The Monkey Sanctuary. The high welfare standards and innovative territory design of the primate sanctuary allows for maximum social interactions and the possibility for the monkeys to live in close-to-natural colonies. As the ex-pet monkeys recover from their often traumatic histories, they display behaviours similar to those of wild monkeys.
Sir David was particularly interested in how capuchin monkeys in the wild anoint themselves with insects and plants. The chemicals that they rub on their fur are thought to have insect repelling qualities – very useful in the tropics where there are many beasties ready to bite! Sir David offered the monkeys at the Sanctuary chilli peppers and spring onions, a favourite for the capuchins. Soon they were captured on camera, not eating but rubbing the chillis and onions on their fur with great excitement. What is fascinating about this behaviour is not just that they do it in the wild, but that captive born monkeys know just what to do as well.
Rachel Hevesi, Director of Wild Futures, said: “It was an honour to have Sir David and his team on site today, we were proud to show him our work, especially when he congratulated the team on what we do. We can’t wait to see the programme when it goes out.”
The Monkey Sanctuary has cared for more than 160 monkeys to date and in 2012 it proudly received accreditation from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) for its high standards of care. To this day still remains the only sanctuary accredited in Europe. It has won awards for sustainable practice and employing wildlife management techniques and has attracted support from many high profile celebrities such as Stephen Fry and Julie Walters.
The overall charity was renamed to Wild Futures a few years ago to better reflect its wider reaching work. Wild Futures is now recognised as leaders and advisors at governmental level, both in the UK and abroad, and for all its work in education, campaigns and delivering far-reaching environmental education programmes.
Although it is a celebration of 50 years at its current Sanctuary site, Wild Futures and The Monkey Sanctuary now moves into a time where the need to expand its rescue and rehabilitation facilities is critical. In recent years statistics indicate that there has been a rise in the number of primates being kept as pets in the UK. The Monkey Sanctuary receives regular requests to rescue monkeys, particularly when the monkey reaches maturity and the owner realises they have made a huge mistake. The Monkey Sanctuary has nearly reached capacity and Wild Futures is currently reviewing plans for expansion. Fundraising is therefore more vital than ever.
<ENDS>
Notes to Editors:
Release date: 15th August 2014
About Wild Futures
Wild Futures (Charity reg. No. 1102532) is an educational and environmental charity promoting the welfare and conservation of primates and working to end the abuse of primates in captivity. Its flagship project, The Monkey Sanctuary, in Cornwall, is home to victims of the primate pet trade. The Monkey Sanctuary is the only Sanctuary in Europe accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) and is a founder and board member of EARS (European Alliance of Rescue Centres and Sanctuaries). Drawing on 50 years of primate expertise, Wild Futures acts as an advisory body to sanctuaries and conservation organisations in the UK and overseas and advises DEFRA on UK animal welfare legislation.
For more information or pictures, contact:
For further information and details, please contact
Rachel Hevesi, Head of Income Generation and PR
Tel; 0844 272 1271
www.wildfutures.org