The Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. The sanctuary transitioned from a small rescue centre in 1996, and ever since, it has been providing lifelong care for primates. What started off as a modest operation has since grown into one of the biggest sanctuaries in the UK for chimpanzees and primates.
Bringing Awareness to Primates
The media has done a great job of putting the spotlight on primates. Movies like King Kong have also helped to bring primates into the spotlight. There are 13 full-feature films in total, and there are also podcasts that honour the ape as well. Kaiju Karnage is a Godzilla and King Kong podcast that delves into some of the lesser-known works in the series.
The King Kong franchise is so big that it’s even inspired games within the casino sector. Betfair Even Bigger Bananas 2 is part of the King Kong game umbrella and features a reinterpreted version of the giant ape in a jungle setting that closely mirrors the movie.
The title also features tropical iconography, which again pays homage to the ape’s home. Planet of the Apes is another example, with the movie showing intelligent apes as they become the dominant species.
Monkey Business also produced nine seasons and experienced a huge level of success, as people from across the UK tuned in to see the popular primate at a sanctuary in Dorset.
Examples like this have helped to spark public interest once again in primates and how important it is to ensure their protection. Sites like the Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary are so important for protecting primates, and the 30-year anniversary is a testament to how hard the team has worked behind the scenes to give monkeys and apes a forever home.
Even though the team began to study animals in 1989, the site was opened in 1996 as a dedicated sanctuary, and within a matter of years, it made national headlines. Today, the sanctuary is home to a number of animals, including gibbons, chimpanzees, baboons, spider monkeys, capuchins, and macaques.
They also have a number of marmosets. The sanctuary isn’t just a haven for chimps either. It’s also home to meerkats, donkeys, pigs, wolfdogs, several cats and goats.
Providing Enrichment and Space for Primates in Wales
Every enclosure within the sanctuary is designed to provide enrichment as well as space for the animals that have been brought in.
The sanctuary changed its name to the Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary in 2008 in an attempt to reflect the growth of the sanctuary and to also help it stand out as one of the leading sanctuaries in the country.
They welcome upward of 30,000 visitors every single year, with admission fees going to fund specialist diets, as well as maintenance work. The sanctuary relies on public support and also offers sponsorship to provide care for the animals in their sanctuary.
As the sanctuary is such an attraction in Wales, and as thousands of people visit every year, it’s become a staple for the community and a beacon of hope for animals across the world.
