Monkey sanctuary shuts after more than 60 years

A monkey sanctuary has closed after more than 60 years after plans for a buyer fell through.

Wild Futures said on its social media and website the park, near Looe, in Cornwall, had started to develop "structural issues" which made it unfit for purpose and no longer suitable as a long-term sanctuary.

The charity, which was established in 1964, said it had already started the process of rehoming monkeys to selected sanctuaries and organisations, and that their welfare remained its "top priority".

Wild Futures said it thought it had found a buyer to help improve the the site after it was put on the market in June 2025. However, after six months of negotiations, plans had fallen through, it said.

"We do not believe it would be responsible to invest hundreds of thousands of pounds into a site that is no longer suitable for the sanctuary's long-term future, and whose ongoing maintenance now far surpasses the financial resources we have available to us," said Sarah Hanson, the charity's director.

"As such, we have made the difficult decision to direct funds towards securing a safe future for the monkeys."

The charity said an emergency appeal would be launched to help cover the "significant costs" of safely rehoming every monkey.

In March 2025, it announced it would close to the public for the rest of the year because of financial struggles.

Wild Futures said the sanctuary began when it started rescuing woolly monkeys from the pet trade.

"We are proud that we were the first Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries accredited wildlife sanctuary in Europe, and we educated hundreds of thousands of visitors on animal welfare, conservation, and the need for a ban," it said.

"While we feel deep sadness at the closure of the sanctuary, we are filled with hope for the future and the next chapter of Wild Futures, as there is still important work to be done."

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