MONA - UK
MONA is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of primates suffering in captivity. Set up in 2001, our primate rescue centre in Spain provides a permanent home for abused primates where they can live in a naturalistic and stimulating environment, and they can form friendships, forage, climb and play for the rest of their lives. We currently care for fourteen chimpanzees and a colony of barbary macaques, and we continue to rescue primates throughout Europe.
Member since: 28 Feb 2007
How the minimum criteria of the responsible travel standard was met...
Economic responsibility
- We ensure that more than 90% of the funds generated through our working weekends go directly back into our primate rescue and rehabilitation project.
- We employ local people at the sanctuary who work as caregivers for the primates. The rest of our team are volunteers.
- We promote local restaurants and hotels through our website and we also email our guests an information pack with local accommodation, restaurants in the nearby medieval city of Girona. We use local produce to feed the primates and staff.
Environmental responsibility
- We use recycled paper and in the UK office we use energy efficient light bulbs and turn off lights, computers etc.
- We are currently working with a local NGO called Fundacio Natura and we have planted 6500 young trees of different species to improve the biodiversity of the area of land within the sanctuary.
- We recycle waste, paper, cans, bottles and plastic, as well as printer cartridges and mobile phones.
Social responsibility
- Our education department was specifically set up to introduce local children to the amazing world of primates and to promote respect and understanding of these magnificent animals.
- We give lectures and interactive workshops to children aged 3 – 14 years. One of our main aims is to help children realise that our lives and the lives of other primates are not so disconnected and that everything we do has a direct effect on all other animals.
- We want to help children recognise that our behaviour and lifestyle is directly linked to nature even though we often forget that it is.
