Elvis is the patriarch of The Monkey Sanctuary’s first, and 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.

Despite his size, Elvis is a gentle giant and is very kind and calm. Although he lives in his own social group, he loves to chat to his monkey neighbours. He was the father of four youngsters, and taught them all about the ways of being a capuchin.

Elvis is the alpha of his family group, and leads with kindness, patience, and his trademark gentle nature.

Sadly, as with so many of the monkeys we rescue, we don’t know anything about his life before the college, not even his birth year. Since their rescue, they have all lived happily in a familial group – similarly to how they would in the wild.