The group of long-tailed macaques, who were retired from a research laboratory to our Sanctuary in May, has now been released into a 5-acre free-range enclosure. To think only 5 months ago, they were living in virtually barren, metal laboratory cages. Now they are living a natural life amidst acres of heavily wooded and other lush vegetation.
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On their release into the enclosure, most of the monkeys immediately disappeared into the thick undergrowth. There they remained. We could hear them calling out to each other, but they were hidden in the thick undergrowth. Within a few days we started to catch glimpses of them as they became more confident in their new surroundings and started to venture out more. Now we can see them climbing and sitting in trees, grooming each other while sitting on branches and gathering around the watering holes in the afternoon.
For us, their human caregivers, it has been a rewarding and emotional time. We have watched them over the months adjusting to their new life outside the laboratory cage. They have now embarked on the final stage of that journey. I am so pleased that we have been able to provide them with a natural environment that enables them to live freely. After all they have been through, they thoroughly deserve it.
Until next week,
Sarah