Welcome to Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary

Support Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary

Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary is a non-profit making, registered charity [Reg. no. 1120919] and is totally self-funding.

Jim, Sharon and their family feed, clean, house and care for these primates without any monetary assistance. They do it because they care passionately about these intelligent animals.

It takes £1,000 per year to look after each monkey.

Money is not all that is required. Building materials, labour, food, cleaning equipment, locks and keys and expertise from tradesmen (electricians, carpenters, plumbers etc.) are also desperately needed. If you feel you could help us here at Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary with any of the items or skills required, we would love to hear from you.

Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary are grateful for any donations, great or small.

To find out what supplies you can donate to the Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary click here

To find out how your financial donations can make a difference at Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary click here

Visiting Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary

We hope that you can appreciate the reasons why Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary is not open to the public. All our monkeys have been rescued from situations and circumstances that have caused them distress and trauma. We feel they deserve a chance to live in peace and security and at last achieve ‘sanctuary’.

For more news please read our updates below

October 08

An urgent call is received from The Monkey Sanctuary Trust to rescue three Rhesus monkeys from Wales. A sanctuary has closed and, whilst the other six monkeys have been rehomed, as usual, nobody wants the Macaques. Jimmy and Sharon drive to Wales (a round trip of 420 miles) and collect Mortimer, Elsie and Sidney. After an extremely slow and long journey, the three monkeys are now settling in well. The other residents greeted them with a loud vocal display, especially their neighbour Sally, who seems very taken with our new residents. Profiles on each of the new monkeys will be added to our sponsorship page in the near future.

September 08

We receive several phone calls about 9 monkeys needing a home. It's a delicate operation involving Greece, Germany, Portugal and Holland. We are frantically trying to sort out the logistics of it all, we know we'll get there eventually, but it's trying to plan where they can all go that is the challenge. Jimmy is never again going to utter those fateful words 'it's very quiet this month, isn't it?'!

August 08

Minky is let in with Nobby after spending a month in the pen next to him during the day. As Jimmy pulls the slide open between them, we all stand with baited breath waiting to see how Nobby reacts. He's a star! Minky now stays with Nobby at night. She has her teddy - Nobby has his own - plus a warm bottle of milk and a box to snuggle up in. They're the best of friends and the Shaws can now sit down and watch the telly without being jumped on from the curtain pole.

Salsky moves into the pen next to the girls in the quarantine unit. Mulatta seems extremely interested in him, but Salsky seems a little overawed by all the female attention. As long as he's got his toy cat, he's happy. Hopefully, in a couple of weeks, we can move all four into a new pen to let them bond as a group.

July 08

Building work is underway on the quarantine section, adaptations are being made to prepare for Salsky moving in with the girls, Delphy, Minoem and Mulatta. More news of the move next month.

June 08

Nobby is taken to the vets for a check-up. He appears to be in good health with just a minor sinus problem. Thames Water carries out a survey on the pond in the woods and have some very exciting news for us. We have a thriving colony of Great Crested Newts (a protected species) along with Palmate and Smooth varieties. We plan to incorporate and support our natural wildlife in all future plans for the Sanctuary.

May 08

Minky is one year old. It has been a very long year! Minky's first birthday is spent in her outside enclosure with her best friend Lucy (a rescue dog from DBARC) and her new friend and neighbour, Nobby. Minky is starting to spend her days outside, being a monkey, coming into the house only at night.

April 08

A new arrival at the Sanctuary, Nobby, a Crab Eating Macaque. It was a multi-agency rescue, with The Monkey Sanctuary (Cornwall), Born Free Foundation and, ultimately, DWARF involved in Nobby's rescue and re-homing. To read about our new resident, visit the sponsorship page.

March 08

The roof is completed on the new enclosure measuring 10m x 10m x 3.5m. The cage is re-branched, fire hoses and ladders - kindly donated by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service - are put in place. Tazz and Wingnut move in and seem a little bewildered by the space. Tazz soon puts it to the test, dashing around and taunting her neighbours, Guy and Alice.

February 08

Delphy, who is living in quarantine with Minoem and Mulatta, is showing some signs of hair loss. There are no signs of infection or skin problems, so the symptoms all point to stress. The move from Holland, settling into her new home and establishing the dynamics of the group have all been very stressful for her. We are monitoring her behaviour and watchful for any signs of anxiety.

January 08

Wingnut is taken ill. The vet suspects a stroke but, after examination, it's discovered he must have had a fall during the night. Apart from a large bump above his right eye and some unsteadiness, he's recovering after a course of medication.

December 07

Three female macaque monkeys arrive from the AAP Sanctuary for Exotic Animals in the Netherlands. Delphy, Minoem and Mulatta move into quarantine for 6 months.

November 07

Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary announces the launch of the “Sponsor a Monkey” programme.

July 07

Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary becomes a registered charity number 1120919.

June 07

DEFRA confirms Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary as a registered quarantine station for the rescue of primates from Europe.

Since 1984 the Sanctuary owners, Jim and Sharon Shaw, have been offering a safe, happy home for the many monkeys who need their care.

The objective of the Sanctuary is simply to: Rescue, Re-home and Rehabilitate.

Rescue – Jim and Sharon travel the country to rescue monkeys in response to phone calls from other animal rescue organisations or individuals.

Re-home – Once a monkey has been rescued, he will be brought back to Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary to spend the rest of his life with his own kind.

Rehabilitate – Monkeys suffer trauma and distress as much as humans do. To rehabilitate these wonderful animals takes time, patience and kindness, all found at Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary.