8. THE LIVES OF RESCUED MONKEYS

“OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary, a facility that provides homes and loving care to monkeys who have been retired from research or who were once exploited in the exotic pet trade.“

“Make fun pets. But human homes are terrible environments for monkeys. Most people, even those with the best of intentions, are unaware of the time, resources, and energy required keeping a monkey happy and healthy–especially once that monkey becomes full grown. As a result, pet owners lose interest or become overwhelmed, and monkeys all too often end up locked away in cages under unimaginably grim conditions–or they are simply abandoned.“

“Caring for a primate requires consideration of each individual monkey’s history, health, preferences, and temperament in order to provide them with a safe, secure environment and appropriate enrichment. One of the many monkeys at OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary is Jack, a male Java macaque who was once kept as a pet and later abandoned. One of Jack’s favorite activities is swimming and splashing in the sanctuary’s macaque pool. Louise is another permanent resident of OPR, following her retirement from research. She has become close friends with Holly, who was once on display in a pet store.“

*SOURCE OF MATERIAL IN AWI- Animal Welfare Institute.