Heroic Monkey Wins Animal Hero Award
27th November 2014
Joey, a rescued capuchin monkey who lives at Wild Futures’ Monkey Sanctuary in Cornwall, has won a special award in the RSPCA and Daily Mirror’s Animal Hero Awards 2014 for his bravery through adversity and helping other traumatised, rescued monkeys recover from neglect. The winner was announced at a prestigious awards ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel in London last night.
Joey had a sad start to life; he was taken from the wild as an infant, his mother probably killed for bush-meat. Flown from South America to the UK, Joey was locked in a tiny cage in a flat in Camden Town for 9 years. He was deprived of the company of his own kind, unable to exercise, had no access to natural sunlight and became crippled by bone disease. He has a misshapen pelvis, curved spine, poorly formed teeth and jaws and will always be severely disabled.
Despite the physical and psychological trauma Joey endured, specialist care and his determination and lust for life helped him to pull through and he now helps newly rescued monkeys to recover and settle into life at The Monkey Sanctuary. Although Joey is now in a much better place, with large spacious enclosures, and most importantly, the company of other capuchin monkeys, he will always carry the physical and emotional trauma of his life as a pet.
Wild Futures’ Director, Rachel Hevesi, along with one of Joey’s long-term keepers, Claire Turnbull, attended the awards on Joey’s behalf and rubbed shoulders with animal-loving celebrities such as Brian May, Amanda Holden, Bill Oddie and Deborah Meaden.
Director Rachel Hevesi said: “We are ecstatic that Joey has won, and it was a real honour to be able to represent him and his friends at our sanctuary at the awards ceremony. He truly deserves recognition for his amazing strength of character in the face of such hardship. Although Joey is a true inspiration and now enjoys specialist care, large spacious enclosures and company of other monkeys, we are still fighting to end the UK primate pet trade and save the thousands of others, who are suffering like Joey did.”
Last week, Wild Futures hosted a Parliamentary Reception in the House of Commons, to highlight the issue of the cruel UK primate pet trade. The event was a great success, with many animal protection groups and MPs showing their support. Contributions from renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, Joanna Lumley, George McGavin, Wendy Turner Webster and others also added to the event.
The charity is now calling for people to write to their MPs- hundreds have already joined their speech bubble campaign, completing the sentence, “Primates should not be kept as pets because…” Claire Turnbull said: “We would love MPs to receive more of our bubbles and hope people will go to our webpage, download a bubble and have their voice heard for the monkeys.” Details can be found on www.wildfutures.org/fundraising/support-our-campaign/.
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Notes to Editors:
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 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 contact:
T: 0844 272 1271