Sheryll Murray visited and adopted Donkey the Barbary Macaque Monkey at Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary near Looe during a visit to see how he was getting on and to talk to Brooke Aldrich, Campaigns Manager for Wild Futures, about getting a ban on people keeping primates as pets.
Donkey’s story was presented to the House of Commons by Sheryll who spoke against the keeping of wild animals by circuses on Thursday 23rd June as part of Mark Pritchard MP’s backbench debate. She highlighted the fact that Donkey’s life was not a happy one but now with the help and support of the Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary he is living a comfortable life.
Sheryll is at present working with Brooke to bring forward legislation to the House of Commons for a ban on primates being kept as pets. The sanctuary has been offering a home for life to primates in need of rescue and rehabilitation since 1964 - most of the primates at the sanctuary have come from private homes.
Sheryll was very pleased to see that the new enclosure, which was in its early stages when she last visited, was now close to completion. Sheryll said, “this new enclosure is a much needed addition to the sanctuary and it is even more pleasing to know that it is Donkey along with 2 other male Barbary Macaque Monkey’s who will benefit from this fantastic new enclosure. The Sanctuary is a charity that is always in need of funding and there are many ways in which the public can help; they could visit the sanctuary and see first hand the amazing work they do, they could become a volunteer and try the hands on approach, they could donate materials (like a number of local businesses) or they could do as I have and adopt a monkey. I am thrilled to now have a new member of my family - Donkey.
“I urge as many people to look into what they can do to help the sanctuary make the life of monkey’s like Donkey a happier and healthier one”.
You can find information about the sanctuary and Wild Futures on their website www.monkeysanctuary.org
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Pictured Sheryll Murray by adoption sign