Rescue Monkeys from Lives of Abuse

Thank you for choosing to support our work to rescue monkeys from lives of abuse in the USA and Zambia.

Our partners at Born Free USA and the Zambia Primate Project (ZPP) have been busy since our last update in December, rescuing monkeys from appalling conditions and providing care and rehabilitation.

At Born Free USA’s Primate Sanctuary in Texas, the long journey to recovery has just begun for monkeys rescued during 2021, and critical strides have been made in the last few months thanks to the generous support of donors.

Kiki, a five-year-old vervet was kept as a pet for her entire life in a private home in Dallas, Texas. She was emaciated and showed signs of malnourishment when she arrived at the sanctuary in June 2021. She has now doubled in weight and her liver function is back to normal. Kiki’s once sun-deprived pale face is now a healthy colour. Prior to her arrival, she had never met another monkey. Her introduction to the other monkeys at the sanctuary has been successful and she now lives and plays with other vervets.

Gambit, a five-year old macaque, was locked in a tiny cage for years in Las Vegas, Nevada. Relinquished into the care of Born Free USA in July 2021, Gambit is now physically healthy, but he remains afraid of other monkeys after so many years in isolation. At the sanctuary, he is kept comfortable and safe in an area where he can see and interact with other macaques, while in his own space. When he shows signs of being secure around other monkeys, he will slowly be introduced to new friends.

Willis is a three-year old vervet who was kept illegally in Chicago, Illinois. After he was confiscated by Chicago authorities, he arrived at the sanctuary in late 2021. Willis has an incredible zest for life, and we love watching his youthful antics. He is thoroughly enjoying his new social life, particularly with Billie, an older female vervet who puts up with Willis’ attempts to treat her like a surrogate mother. He likes to wrap himself up like a burrito in a blanket and will often hang upside down from his swing.

Meanwhile the Born Free-supported ZPP team have been incredibly busy. Since early December 2021, thanks to a network of local informers, the Rescue Team has confiscated a total of 15 primates - three yellow baboons and 12 vervet monkeys - from five different provinces in Zambia.

Rafiki, Astro, and Thena had been kept illegally as pets; George II and Duke were orphaned when their mothers were killed for bushmeat; Fred, Boss, Tasila had been kept chained-up since they were infants; Mwezi and Zuwa had been housed with chickens; Martin was found on sale for $100; Chocho was found tied-up in a tree; orphan Salim was found chained to a pole; Natasha was kept illegally; and Nkonde was kept in a tiny basket – so small he couldn’t sit up properly.

All the rescued monkeys had endured terrible psychological and physical pain, as the chains and ropes used for tying primates up are never changed, which means they eventually cut into their flesh. They were kept in appalling conditions - alone, confined in tiny spaces, exposed to constant sun or in complete darkness, sometimes with no access to water or proper food.

Thanks to the generous support of donors, the ZPP team have been able to give them a second chance of life back in the wild, and after their health check in the capital of Zambia, all the rescued primates were transferred to the rehabilitation facility in Kafue National Park (KNP) where they have started the process to learn the skills they need to survive in the wild.

The rehabilitation facility is currently home to 42 primates under the care of the ZPP team. Here, their progress is monitored as they gradually integrate with their new families and are prepared to be released into the wild when they are ready.

Alongside the rescue and rehabilitation programmes, the release team has been tirelessly monitoring the troop of vervet monkeys released into the park in October 2021. They will continue to do so until October 2022 to maximise the survival of the primates.

Since the beginning of 2022, the ZPP team has already rescued 44% of the primates rescued throughout 2021. They couldn’t do what we do without the generosity of donors and supporters.

Thank you for your continued support for this vital work to protect primates in both Zambia and the USA.