AAP tackles cultural differences among primates

Almere, 20th September 2011 – On Thursday 22nd September a special threesome arrives at AAP: Hamadryas baboon Elisabeth (see photo), crab-eating macaque Manula and mona monkey Cyprianos lived for years, three in a cage, near a monastery on Cyprus. People did not think anything of it, they thought all monkeys can be housed together. But not all monkeys are alike.

Each primate species has its own language and its own specific social structures. The animals must have felt as if they lived with someone speaking an incomprehensible language and with odd habits. This stressed the animals out. A priest left the monkeys at the monastery and the monks were looking after the animals properly but could not remove the ‘cultural difference’.

At AAP, Manula and Cyprianos will be placed with congeners. For baboon lady Elisabeth we have already found a nice new address; after staying at AAP for a short while she will meet a warm reception in Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary in England, where she’ll form a baboon family with Tilin and Tina, two Hamadryas baboons already living there.

David van Gennep, director of AAP “Here too we see that ignorance accidentally leads to animal suffering. That goes for nearly all exotic species kept as pets. Almost on a daily basis, AAP is confronted with the sad aftermath. Group animals housed on their own, leading to boredom and deviant behaviour and a wrong diet can lead to disorders such as diabetes, obesity and permanent deformities. Fortunately, also due to our co-operation with other European animal protection organizations*, we are able to offer this monkey threesome a healthy and stress-free future too.”

*AAP arranged with the Cypriote animal protection organization ARC for the monkeys to come to Almere.