Volunteering with monkeys

Volunteering with monkeys is usually a ‘hands off’ experience. However, there is a monkey rehabilitation centre in South Africa where volunteers are actually encouraged to cuddle and care for orphaned baby monkeys in order to fill the void left by missing mothers. This sort of voluntary experience is rare and one of the only wildlife conservation placements where you are actively required to handle animals including bathing, feeding and general care.

For more information on volunteering with adult and baby monkeys and becoming a part of the primate re-wilding process, read on…

Monkeys are primates, not apes. Apes don't have tails. Chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, gibbons, humans: all apes, not monkeys. Monkeys mainly live in trees, apart from baboons, and so tails are essential for balancing on high branches. There are over 250 different species of monkey and if you want to volunteer at a rehab centre or sanctuary in Africa, Asia or South America then here’s how.

The young monkeys are usually ready to move on to the next stage of their rehabilitation at about 18 months which is considered to be a sort of teenage time for monkeys. Their new, semi-wild enclosures will be larger than at infant stage and allow them enough space to forage for food and begin to adapt to life away from human contact. During the final stage of a monkey's rehabilitation they will become part of a troop based within a completely wild enclosure. The size of the enclosure varies but as long as there’s enough variety and food to support the primates in that area then there’s every chance they’ll become totally self-sufficient, and ready to make the next step and return to the wild.

Once a troop is considered ready for release they will be taken at least a few hours' drive from the centre to a site that isn't already occupied by another monkey troop or well known for human activity. The monkeys will then be left in massive, open cages where they're free to come and go as they please. Usually monkeys will be slow to leave their cages and only come out during the day before returning to sleep at night. Long term volunteers or specialists may be asked to monitor the monkey troop's progress and often after a couple of weeks the troop will become more confident of their surroundings and finally leave their cages for good as they return to the wild.

The recommended length of time for volunteering with monkeys is over two weeks. Two weeks just about lets you get to know the ropes so you can work on your own. It gives you enough time to bring fresh enthusiasm and positivity to a project and help the permanent staff get on with the important task of getting a troop ready to return to the wild.

Coming with preconceptions is no good for anyone. Be flexible and understand that results aren't instantaneous, they happen over time. Animal conservation can be controversial so be aware that you're going to be volunteering in a different country where rules, customs and living conditions aren't the same as back home. Negativity can be contagious so come with an open mind and accept that your new reality is helping to make the most of the resources and staff available.

Of course, you will be given information before you head off so read up on what's expected of you and try to learn about animal welfare, monkey habits and cultural expectations as well as getting excited at the prospect of cuddling monkey babies and mucking out the poop.