Capuchin monkeys at Wild Futures' sanctuary. Photo credit to Petra Osterberg.
If you read our interview with Brooke Aldrich of Wild Futures a couple of months ago, you will remember that Wild Futures is a charity dedicated to promoting primate conservation and welfare, both through its campaigns, and through its sanctuary in Cornwall, UK.
One of the monkeys cared for by Wild Futures at The Monkey Sanctuary is Joey, a capuchin monkey who was taken from his natural rainforest home at three months old when his mother was killed for bushmeat, and kept in a tiny cage in London for nine years before being rescued. Though Joey is now given as natural a life as possible at the sanctuary, receiving rehabilitation and medical care, as well as enrichment, a fulfilling environment and the correct diet, his early experiences have left him with severe physical difficulties, including spinal deformities and problems with his teeth and jaws.
In order to increase awareness of the permanent and damaging effects of the primate pet trade on individuals like Joey, and to raise funds to care for him and the sanctuary’s other residents through the Adopt a Monkey scheme, Wild Futures enlisted the help of Stephen Fry to present a video about Joey’s life. Released on July 6th, the video has had almost 2,000 views in just three days, and is generating a lot of discussion on social networks as people spread its message.
You can support this campaign by watching the video below, then sharing it on your Facebook page, Twitter account or your personal blog or website. You could also email a link to your friends and family, and of course, if you can adopt a monkey, it would greatly benefit the primates that Wild Futures works to protect.
