Monkeys Marvel at Chinese New Year!

The primate residents at Wild Futures’ Monkey Sanctuary are celebrating the Chinese New Year, in tribute to the Year of the Monkey.

The Looe-based charity have come up with an apt way to celebrate Chinese New Year; by giving gifts to the monkeys that pay homage to Chinese tradition. The fortunate monkeys have received gift parcels and red envelopes, as a symbol of good luck, energy, happiness and wellbeing. In Chinese tradition, money is to be found inside, but the monkeys found a treat of nuts, seeds and dried fruit instead!

Every year is a monkey year for Wild Futures, owing to their primate welfare and conservation work, but the Chinese Year of the Monkey brings further opportunities and hope in raising awareness of the charity’s work and the plights of primates worldwide.

The charity has an extra special project planned for 2016 in the form of ‘Mission Marmoset Monkey’  and are hoping to raise £60,000 to build dedicated facilities at their Sanctuary for the smallest victim of the primate pet trade; the common marmoset. An estimated 5,000 primates are kept as pets in the UK and Wild Futures say that calls they receive concerning pet marmosets is on the increase. The charity has long been campaigning to end the UK primate pet trade and marmosets are the most common victims of inappropriate care. Monkey breeders often remove infants from their mothers at just a few weeks old to sell them as pets for up to £1200. A lack of knowledge about their specialised needs often leads to them suffering terribly; cramped in cages, fed inappropriate diets and denied vital companionship.

Wild Futures are hoping that the Chinese Year of the Monkey can help raise as much awareness as possible of the cruel trade and their plans to offer these tiny, tropical monkeys a safe home for life.  Wild Futures Director Rachel Hevesi said: “It’s year of the monkey in the Chinese calendar which warms our hearts and gives us cause for celebration! In fact, as a charity dedicated to protecting primates and habitats worldwide, every year is a year of the monkey to us! To donate to our appeal, please visit www.wildfutures.org/marmoset-appeal. Gong Xi Fa Cai from all at Wild Futures!”

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Notes to Editors:

About Wild Futures

Wild Futures (Charity reg. No. 1102532) is the educational and environmental charity promoting the welfare and conservation of primates, as well as 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

Claire Turnbull, [email protected]

Tel; 01503 262532

www.wildfutures.org