This in from Harvey on behalf of the Isle of Wight Owl and Monkey Haven. Ed
Four monkeys are in desperate need of a new home after being discovered in the hand luggage of animal smugglers at Brussels airport. Monkey Haven, the Isle Of Wight’s primate rescue centre, have agreed to take these animals on but they need to raise funds in order to build a new enclosure.
Young Grivets taken from the wild
The group of Grivet monkeys, whose names are Malta, Soma, Angél and Pepper, were taken from the wild when they were very young, and are thought to have been destined for the illegal pet trade of Europe before they were intercepted.
To prevent the monkeys from making any noise and arousing the suspicion of customs officials while in transit, the smugglers had wrapped them up in cloth and duct tape. As a result of this trauma, all four individuals now display abnormal behaviours and personality disorders which have rendered them incapable of returning to the wild.
£15,000 appeal
Monkey Haven launched the Grivet Appeal in July this year with the aim of raising £15,000 to go towards enclosure construction materials and the costs associated with importing animals from Europe.
To raise these funds, Monkey Haven will be appearing at various events throughout the summer as well as hosting a fun day weekend on the 22nd and 23rd August at their rescue centre on Staplers Road, Newport. Two of their keepers will also be doing a sky dive in aid of the appeal.
Mistreatment “truly appalling”
Appeal manager Harvey Broadhurst said:
“We desperately want to get these monkeys to the Isle of Wight as soon as possible. The mistreatment they have had to endure is truly appalling and we believe it is our duty to provide these Grivets with the happy home that they deserve.”
The Grivet is species of monkey native to regions of Africa. They are threatened throughout their range by habitat destruction and are sometimes hunted for bushmeat.
To read more about the appeal and discover how you can help, please visit our Website
