Here at the Sanctuary, we strive to provide space, social opportunities, and interesting living environments to all of our 532 monkey residents. Some of our primates live in large troops, in relative freedom, within a huge 56 acre open-topped enclosure and others live in more closely-managed spaces in small groups or pairs. The living space occupied by each monkey is chosen based on the individual needs of that monkey. Sadly, for many monkeys who have been used in research laboratories or kept in isolation as pets, the simple act of living with others of their own kind – often for the first time in their lives – can be a challenging and frightening process which must be learned and adjusted to.
While our Sanctuary provides a safe home for life to animals in need, we cannot fool ourselves that what we are able to provide – even in the largest of our enclosures – is a sufficient substitute for life in the wild. The most fundamental founding principle of our organization is the belief that “wildlife belongs in the wild,” and the monkeys under our care are no exception. No form of captivity, even captivity in the benign and well-intentioned form of a true sanctuary, can give wild animals the diversity, opportunities, and challenges that a life lived free in their natural habitat can. And, this is why, for all of the monkeys living here, and particularly for those living in the more managed spaces, enrichment is a vital part of the care that we provide.
The key is to provide items or activities for the monkeys to explore, figure out, and play with and for those items and activities to be regularly changing – novelty is vital in a well-planned enrichment program.
While enrichment in its purest form is the company of another monkey (or monkeys) to play with, to groom, and to cuddle up with at night, there is a lot that our team can do to help keep life interesting here at the Sanctuary. Enrichment might form part of the infrastructure of the monkey’s living space: ropes to climb on, a swing to whoosh back and forth on, a climbing platform to survey the world from. Changing configuration or positioning of these items within enclosures from time to time helps to keep the monkeys on their toes and, sometimes quite literally, gives them a different perspective on life! Daily enrichment might be a food puzzle for an inquisitive mind and agile hands to work out, a mirror to admire oneself in (or angle around to spy on caregivers). It might be a cherished possession that provides hours of entertainment dependent on individual preference – such as Darwin the baboon’s beloved red plastic egg, which he likes to carry around with him. On a hot day, it might be a frozen fruity popsicle with delicious nuts hidden inside or a water sprinkler to sit under to cool down.
And, when shopping our wish list, please don’t forget to use AmazonSmile and select Born Free USA as your charity of choice so you can actually give to the Sanctuary twice with the same donation!
Thank you!
For the Monkeys,
Liz
P.S. Check out this video about enrichment at the Sanctuary and share it with your friends:
