About AAP

1. Who are we?

AAP is a sanctuary for apes, monkeys and small exotic animals. Our organization was founded more than 35 years ago. AAP is located in Almere.

2. How many animals are staying at AAP in Almere?

AAP houses on average 150 primates and around the same amount of small exotic mammals.

3. Where do the animals come from?

Our animals come from the Netherlands as well as the rest of Europe. They have often been kept in small, disreputable animal parks or circuses, come from the illegal animal trade, laboratories or from private owners.

4. Do the animals stay at AAP indefinitely?

The animals at AAP are not supposed to remain with us for the rest of their lives. AAP endeavours to find suitable outplacement addresses for them, such as good zoos or reserves. We take all necessary care in selecting our outplacement addresses.

5. Can the animals be placed back into the wild?

No, the animals that are brought to AAP cannot be placed back into the wild. Upon arrival at AAP, most of them are in a bad condition. They were born in captivity or taken from their mothers at a very early age. Because they have never learned how to cope in the wild they have no chance of survival there.

6. What happens to the animals that cannot be outplaced?

To those animals that cannot be outplaced, AAP offers permanent housing. The 'islands' in Almere, which were put into use in 2001, are suitable for permanent housing. Autumn 2006, our chimpanzee complex was added to this. At the moment AAP is constructing Primadomus, a big project in Spain that will be able to house up to 150 primates that can not be outplaced elsewhere.

7. How is AAP financed?

AAP depends on donations and sponsorship by individuals or companies.

8. Does AAP receive subsidy from the government?

AAP does not receive subsidy from the government, except for the expenses of maintaining 28 infected chimpanzees that came from a Dutch laboratory.