Caehopkin, Abercrave,
Swansea Valley, SA9 1UD
South Wales, UK
Tel +44 (0) 1639 730276
Email:-  info@cefn-yr-erw.co.uk

  

Latest News

3rd April 2009:  Two Baboons and a Mona Monkey have now been rescued from Beirut and are now safe at Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary in South Wales.

           

Latest News....Cousha and David Wilson of Debden, and their friends, have held a party at which they raised the money to pay Joey and Tubman's transport costs from Mole Hall to Wales.

Click here to see the slide show of their journey to Wales.

Dr Shirley McGreal OBE, who must be the World's most famous gibbon fanatic, visited Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary during the summer and we were delighted to play host to someone who has done so much for animals and been such a staunch supporter of the IPPL for many years.

     

The following extract is from ThePost and Courier, January 4, 2008

Royal recognition is nothing out of the ordinary for Shirley McGreal. Her sanctuary for primates in Summerville and her work to combat the illegal trafficking in threatened species have earned her international renown and a letter-writing friendship with Britain's Prince Philip. But she was bowled over when she learned recently that she was to be honored by his wife, Queen Elizabeth II. She doesn't think that the prince put a word in for her and tells us she doesn't know how she was chosen to be an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's New Year's Honors List. It is one of the highest honors that the monarch can bestow on an individual.

Modesty prevented her from acknowledging that her work to protect primates speaks for itself.

Shirley McGreal founded the International Primate Protection League more than 30 years ago and has devoted her life to a cause that is a labor of love. Her sanctuary in Summerville is currently home to 38 primates whose lives she has helped to save, often putting herself at risk.

Combating animal smugglers, as Prince Philip wrote in a letter of congratulation, "is a very dangerous business and it takes real courage to collect evidence, track smugglers and bring illegal dealers to justice."

International Primate Protection League Secretary Jean Martin tells us that "getting a primate export ban in India was a highlight of Shirley's work and enabled many animals to remain exactly where they should be living wild and free and not in laboratories. Shirley has a special love of gibbons. Her gibbon facility is wonderfully maintained and well-staffed."

Reporter Diane Knich, who interviewed Dr. McGreal for a front-page story published this week, noted that the British-born but longtime Summerville resident treats her gibbons "like royalty." Although accustomed to communicating with Prince Philip, Dr. McGreal seems a little in awe at the prospect of the investiture at Buckingham Palace, when she will have to walk backward and curtsy. But she admires the queen and notes that they have a love of animals in common. Just don't expect to see one of Dr. McGreal's primates at the ceremony. The queen also is a stickler for tradition.
We are very grateful to the Musgrove (Budgens and Londis) Group, the long established food retailers, who have very kindly donated two large refrigerated trailers which are ideal for transporting and storing the large volumes of perishable animal foods that we require every day. These include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables as well as treats such as yoghurts and other dairy products.

 

              

Thanks once again to P & O ferries we were able to make the round trip to Belgium in April 2008 and provide  a home for Alf and Adam, two black Mangabeys. Animedic (www.animedic.co.uk) were kind enough to provide a special animal ambulance in which we were able to transport the two new arrivals to Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary in Wales from the  from the Maturhulpcentrum Sanctuary in Belgium.

These two fine animals, with their fashionable hair styles, had been hand fed for sixteen years by an aging Belgian gentleman who had unfortunately broken his leg. On entering the cage to feed them he was attacked and his face and arms were seriously injured. Alf and Adam also fought for the first time and it was clear that with their keeper obviously incapacitated by his broken leg the position of leader (alpha male) was up for grabs.

The Mangabeys had been handed over to the Maturhulpcentrum Sanctuary who set out to find them a home. We responded to their request for help and thanks to our sponsors who included the Pettifor Trust and Beryl Thomas Trust we were able to provide the quarantine facilities needed to see them through their first six months at Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary. 

We also brought back from Belgium a Japanese Macaque, also known as a snow monkey. Her name is Julie and we hope that she will get on well as a companion for Posi, who's story is told below. Julie had been purchased from gypsies and then lived with a family, but she became aggressive and was handed over to the sanctuary

The history of these lovely animals reminds us that they are wild creatures that do not have the characteristics expected of humans.

Although they are relatively small in stature compared to the large apes they are very strong for their size. They are also incredibly quick and have large sharp teeth. They are not pets by any stroke of imagination and cannot be blamed for their behaviour towards well meaning would-be carers who have failed to understand their habits and requirements.

 

The Special Animal Ambulance

 

Julie the Snow Monkey

The New Capuchin house is now complete (Photos to follow shortly) and we thank P.D.Edenhall (www.pd-edenhall.co.uk) who donated the blocks, and LaFarge ( www.lafarge.co.uk ) who supplied all the cement, for their help.
 

Pozzi arrives from France                Please click the picture to read Pozzi's story

Pozzi thanks Admiral Insurance for their generosity, which helped make his life at Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary a reality.

Unfortunately Pozzi has a neural stimulator implanted in his back. This is a large metal box which sends impulses to his brain and because of this other Macaques see him as compromised and attack him.  We need to provide special quarters for him when he comes out of quarantine in a few months time and any donations or help in kind would be welcomed.

Ronnie Arrives from Gelsenkirchen

 

Ronnie...  A lovely nineteen year old male chimp has arrived from Germany. 

CLICK HERE to read about his long journey and how he has already formed a small family group at Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary with Freddie and Nakima ( picture below right)

Nakima

In 2006 Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary was contacted by a lady from Belgium who has cared for chimpanzees throughout her long life. Unfortunately she is now physically unable to continue her good work directly, but she travelled all the way from Brussels to South Wales to see if we could provide a suitable home for Nakima a female chimpanzee.

Nakima spent her six month quarantine period in the company of Freddie, one of our existing male chimps. They got on famously together and now with the arrival of Ronnie from Germany it looks like we have achieved a wonderful outcome for all concerned.

 

 

The Beirut Rescue 

Beta   "Beirut Ethical Treatment for Animals" recently rescued a number of baboons and other monkeys from cruel conditions in a "pet shop" in Beirut. Graham Garen the co-proprietor of Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary flew out to Beirut in October 2006 to establish the situation. He had to return frustrated and empty handed because of the chaos which still prevailed and had no choice but to leave the animals still confined as you see them below.

On his return Graham contacted  organisations who exist to help primates and other exotic animals in distress, but appeals to IFAW, WSPA, International Animal Rescue and Born Free all fell on deaf ears.

Thanks to the generosity and concern of Care for the Wild International however, who unhesitatingly stepped forward and advanced £2000 and allocated a second similar amount, Graham was able to fly back to Beirut, on Thursday November 16th 2006 and, with the help of BETA , to build transportation cages and arrange flights and handling facilities for the animals.  IPPL (International Primate Protection League) in the USA also stepped in and sent a £1500 contribution and AAP Sanctuary in Holland agreed to pay the cost of the flights, which will amount to around £2500. In addition The Pettifor Trust sent £ 5500 and PETA sent £400 and with some additional contributions from the public the rescue has now been made possible. 

We are delighted to say that Seven monkeys including baboons, vervets and a macaque left Beirut by air on the evening of Sunday 26th of November and arrived at Heathrow to be met by Graham and staff from Care of The Wild International at the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow Airport. 

In the meantime quarantine quarters were being completed at Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary for the arrival of the animals in late evening on the same day.

Our heart-felt thanks go out to all those who have helped release these poor animals from a life of hell.

There is still a lot to do because we now have to build permanent quarters for them and we really do still need whatever help we can find to help us meet the costs of their continued support, and indeed continue to care for all the animals at Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary.

Unfortunately heating bills have more than doubled in the last eighteen months due to inflated fuel costs and we must ensure that animals from warmer climates are well protected from the cold of a British winter.

             

More pictures of the Beirut rescue and the arrival of the animals can now be seen by clicking here

The Faro Baboons are here

The response to our appeal for contributions to rescue a group of baboons from Faro in Portugal has resulted in success . Contributions were received from many caring people and we thank you all for your assistance, without which we would have been powerless to act.

The Pettifor Trust stepped in immediately with a substantial contribution and Mrs Pettifor herself came to see us at Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary where we were able to show her the initial preparations of the quarantine quarters.

Corus Panels & Profiles of Ammanford kindly supplied the roof panels for the enclosure and specialised quarantine quarters.  

After many delays the baboons have finally arrived at Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary and there are seven of them, plus one green monkey. They couldn't believe all the space in their new home, never before having been out in the open air, and never having seen a tree. At first they didn't know how to climb but now they love it. Their life could be said to have improved by leaps and bounds.

Mrs Pettifor and colleague of the Pettifor Trust (left) with Jan of Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary in the background.

(Inset above, one of the baboons in Faro Zoo)

(Pictured below, the baboons at Cefn-yr-Erw)

Tom

 Tom the Hamadryas Baboon on the left was rescued by a courageous group of people from a living hell in Lebanon.

Thanks to the compassion and benevolence of a number of concerned organisations and individuals who contributed to bringing him to our sanctuary in South Wales he now has the chance to live out his life in dignity and comfort.

Only a few weeks after Tom arrived at our sanctuary a small female Hamadryus Baboon named Lola was rescued from poor conditions in a Lebanese pet shop. She has now been flown to join Tom at our sanctuary in South Wales and the two are now inseparable.

Lola

Tom and Lola have now been successfully integrated into the Faro baboons group above and they all live amicably together as a family and enjoy each other's company and attention. 

Lots of New Accommodation

The new Baboons have spent six months in quarantine and are now in permanent quarters at the sanctuary. 

We also have to construct permanent quarters for the new Lemurs and would welcome any donation or sponsorship that you are able to make to help us provide quality long term care for these lovely animals.

Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary is a charity and relies on caring members of the public to supplement its income, which all goes directly towards caring for the animals.

We were recently pleased to welcome five more Ruffed Lemurs (above) and three Mayotte Lemurs (left) when their former keeper in Manchester was unable to provide continued support for them.

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