Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary
Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary is a privately owned multi-species primate rehabilitation centre situated in the foothills and gorges of the Magaliesberg mountain range, close to Hartbeespoort Dam in the North West Province of South Africa.
Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary | |
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Coordinates | 25°43′11″S 27°48′54″E |
The sanctuary takes in donated and rescued primates that may have been orphaned, raised as household pets, previously confined to captivity, abused, injured, or recovered from the illegal pet trade.[1]
Primates are rehabilitated for free-release within the natural forested environment of the sanctuary, where they are given a new lease of life in a wild environment and encouraged to search and hunt for food themselves.
The sanctuary is one of only eight free-release primate sanctuaries in the world,[2] and home to over 90 indigenous and exotic primates from around the world. A number of primates have also been born wild at the sanctuary.[3]
The sanctuary is non-subsidised, and supported by funding generated from guided tours and sales of curios.
It is open to the public seven days a week, year round.[1]
Species
Primates species at Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary include: spider monkeys, lemurs, bush babies, squirrel monkeys, capuchin monkeys and vervet monkeys.[4]
Educational tours
Trained guides conduct educational walking tours along elevated wooden walkways through the indigenous forests and gorges of the sanctuary. Visitors have the opportunity to observe and learn about a variety of primate species in an unobtrusive manner, whilst the animals benefit from a protected, yet wild environment.
The tours are geared towards creating awareness of the fact that primates do not make good pets, and the benefits of releasing primates into recognized sanctuaries.[5]
See also
References
- "Bushbaby and Monkey Sanctuary in Hartbeespoort Dam". monkeysanctuary.co.za. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- "Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary". SouthAfrica.net. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- "Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary in Hartbeespoort Dam". South Africa Accommodation, Hotels and Travel. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- "Facts and Statistics about Monkeys, Bushbabies and lemurs". Bushbaby and Monkey Sanctuary in Hartbeespoort Dam. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- "Harmonious Living web article". Archived from the original on 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2013-01-18.