Monkey World - Definition

Monkey World is a 65-acre (0.26 km²) ape and monkey sanctuary and zoo in Dorset, England. It was set up in 1987 by Jim and Alison Cronin to provide abused Spanish beach chimpanzees—who would be dressed in human clothes and used a photographer's prop in tourist resorts, and often killed at ages 4 or 5—with rehabilitation and a stable home.

Today it houses over 150 different primates of 15 different species, which makes it the largest collection outside of Africa. The centre works closely with foreign governments and conservation bodies to stop the illegal smuggling of apes out of Africa and Asia, and has rescued many abused chimps, including from being used in laboratories, circuses, and as novelty pets, as well as photographer's props.

Monkey World has featured in many television programmes including:

• ITV—Nature Watch
• BBC—Operation Chimpanzee
• BBC—State of the Ark
• BBC—Animal Hospital
• CNN & Sky TV—Highlighting a rescue operation in Turkey of smuggled chimpanzees
• ITV—GMTV covering the illegal pet trade in Turkey.
• BBC—QED Saving Trudy
• Granada and Discovery Channels—Monkey Business; a continuing series focussing on Monkey World. Six series made to date equalling 63 programmes.

See also

• Illegal animal trade

External links

• Monkey World official site (http://www.monkeyworld.co.uk/main.php)