Meet Beanie, one of IPPL's
Sanctuary Gibbons
IPPL has worked closely for many years with the dynamic Jim Cronin of Monkey World in Dorset, England. More recently we have also been working with Jim's vivacious wife Alison.
Monkey World is home to over 50 chimpanzees. Over thirty of them are veterans of the Spanish beach chimpanzee racket prevalent in the early 1980's. Others have arrived from Israel, Austria, Greece and France. One chimpanzee is held as "evidence" in a court battle.
The late Simon and Peggy Templer, Spanish residents of British extraction, fought vigorously to end the abuse inflicted on beach chimpanzees. Baby chimpanzees caught by the killing of their mothers were imported to Spain from Africa to supply this sickening trade.
The babies would be dressed in human clothing and passed to tourists on beaches or in bars, so the tourists could be photographed holding a chimpanzee baby, for which they paid a high price.
Often the chimpanzees' teeth would be hammered out with chisels to prevent them inflicting serious bites. The constant popping of flash-bulbs often harmed the chimpanzees' eye-sight. Chimpanzees would be tranquillized to keep them docile.
The Templers worked to get beach chimpanzees confiscated and several animals were kept on their spacious property outside Barcelona, which they converted into a sanctuary.
The campaign to get chimpanzees and other wild animals off the Spanish beaches was a long gruelling campaign that lasted many years. The photographers made so much money they could buy Mercedes, and they fought hard to protect their rackets. The Templers' lives were threatened.
However, many animals were confiscated. After some years, the Templers realized they could not handle so many chimpanzees on their premises and, worse, their enclosures were full and there was no room for not-yet-confiscated animals. They started looking for a solution.
The solution was Jim Cronin, a resident of England who was raised in the United States. Jim, an animal-lover, founded Monkey World Sanctuary in 1987. Jim offered to take every single chimpanzee rescued from the Spanish beaches and to provide them with lifelong first-class care.
IPPL has found that, in animal work, many promises can't be kept despite good intentions. But Jim was as good as his word. He has never said "No" to a chimpanzee needing a home. He has provided a home to several laboratory veterans.
Once chimpanzees arrive at Monkey World, their social rehabilitation starts. Compatible animals live in groups in very spacious living areas surrounded by electric fencing and loaded with things to keep them busy.
Visiting Monkey World is a thrilling experience. Besides the chimpanzees, there are ring-tailed and ruffed lemurs and a group of retired research monkeys.
If you plan to visit the United Kingdom, be sure
to visit Monkey World. Go to Paddington Station and take the train to
Wool. From Wool it is a short taxi ride to Monkey World. You are sure to
have a memorable day.
Meet Beanie, one of IPPL's
Sanctuary Gibbons