Wild Futures Appeals for Help for Diabetic Monkeys

Wild Futures’ Monkey Sanctuary in Cornwall is calling for financial support to help cover its annual vet bills for its monkeys, many of whom suffer with diabetic issues.

The primate welfare charity currently cares for 37 monkeys, mostly ex-pets.  All of the rescued monkeys suffer with physical or abnormal behavioural problems and require continuous specialist care.

A third of the rescued monkeys have blood sugar related problems, due to the poor diet they had as pets and require medication and a strictly controlled diet.

Grips is a capuchin monkey who was born in captivity and kept as a pet.  His mum died shortly after his birth.  He was named Grips due to the way he would grip to his owner in the way that he would have gripped to his mum as many vulnerable baby monkeys do.

When Grips was rescued by Wild Futures in 2010, he was found to be emaciated and losing fur.  Sadly, he was also diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, having been fed sugary fruit, sweets and biscuits as a pet.

Wild Futures has experienced a rise in the number of calls it receives to take in more monkeys, which indicates an escalation in the number being kept as pets in the UK.  The charity estimates about 5,000 primates are privately owned in the UK but fears this number is growing.

With an increase in demand for its rescue work and more complex cases to manage, Wild Futures is appealing for financial donations to help it cover its annual £6,000 vet bills.

Wild Futures’ Monkey Sanctuary remains the only animal sanctuary to be accredited in Europe by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) and hopes that supporters will come forward and help.

Senior Primate Keeper, Claire Turnbull, stated: “It’s really sad to see so many precious animals suffering with issues caused by ignorance.  I have never met a pet owner that has deliberately set out to harm their monkey; it is lack of education.  I have seen monkey pet owners weep when they come to our Sanctuary and realise the damage they have done.  It would be impossible to continue with our work without public support and so we are appealing to the public at our time of need to help us continue in our vital work.”

Supporters can donate via the Wild Futures website at www.wildfutures.org/vetappeal or call the fundraising office on 0844 272 1271.  Donations can also be made by texting SANC22 to 70070.

2013/11/05