Betty is a member of The Monkey Sanctuary’s only natural family group of capuchins.

The group were living at an animal care college in the UK, but by 2012, it had become apparent to the college that capuchin monkeys, as they are wild animals, are unsuitable for students to gain hands-on animal care experience with and The Monkey Sanctuary was asked to rehome them all.

Betty arrived with two youngsters, Amy and Pepper, but both have since sadly passed away from unrelated health complications. She was a kind and gentle mum who’s low ranking status was passed onto her children.

Following the loss of both Amy and Pepper, Betty’s story is of true resilience and strength. Her low-rank has never held her back as she is very smart and she knows how to catch the eye of her carers at feeding times to ensure that she doesn’t miss out on any treats!

Sadly, as with so many of the monkeys we rescue, we don’t know anything about her life before the college or even her birth year, but she is a cheerful and active monkey who loves spending time with her family and joining in the natural politics of capuchin society. They still all live happily in a familial group – similarly to how they would in the wild.

Betty has a very sweet nature and loves nothing more than foraging for tasty snacks!