Jim and Sharon rescue these sensitive, social animals from pet shops, zoos, even family homes to bring them to Lakeview Sanctuary. Here, they can live their remaining years with dignity in the most natural environment possible, with the companionship of their own species. Some weeks, Jim and Sharon are bombarded with phone calls from the authorities with tragic stories of animals that need rescuing. Now, with the realisation of a lifetime dream and a move to bigger premises, their ambition is to erect enclosures in 10 acres of woodland where groups of monkeys can live together in troupes and do as monkeys do! The commitment each primate demands is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and this can last as long as 45 years. They need a huge enclosure maintained frequently, heated winter accommodation and a specialised vet. Medical costs alone can run into thousands. Each individual monkey has to have the correct legal documentation and certification and be fully insured. Then there is the feeding and cleaning! Primates have special dietary requirements. They eat about 4% of their body weight in food daily and have to be fed 2 or 3 times per day to cut down waste and decrease boredom. A bored monkey is an aggressive monkey. |
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