Sheryll Murray, MP for South East Cornwall, has nominated The Monkey Sanctuary/Wild Futures: home to more than 40 rescued primates, to receive £1,000 donated by the trade body bacta, which represents seaside arcades, piers and related attractions.
She says, “I would really like to thank bacta for their generous donation to the Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary based in Looe. I have adopted a monkey and visited the sanctuary on many occasions. I have also met with members of this important charity in Parliament and raised my belief that primates should not be kept as pets. I know the charity still needs to feed and care for the monkeys during this coronavirus pandemic, regardless of whether tourists can pay to see them or not. It is important we help them during this difficult time.”
Bacta launched its Siding With the Seaside (#sidingwiththeseaside) campaign last year in order to support the seaside communities served by their members and to highlight the lack of government investment that threatens the precious heritage in many seaside towns.
Bacta CEO John White says, “The situation was already serious for many seaside towns whose communities have suffered through lack of employment and local investment. However, when we went into lockdown just before the Easter holidays, the position became far more serious as local businesses were forced to shut and the seasonal trade, which is so vital, was lost. Our members made a total of £23,000 available to give to seaside charities via the MPs who we have got to know through our seaside campaigning work and who are best placed to know who would benefit most.”
Wild Futures is an internationally renowned primate welfare and conservation charity that runs The Monkey Sanctuary based in Looe Cornwall. The sanctuary is home to 40 monkeys rescued from situations of abuse and neglect from the UK primate pet trade.
Covid-19 is causing devastation all across the world, and like many others, Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary is struggling as a result of this pandemic and is facing one of their toughest years to date.
“Wild Futures wants to say a huge thank you to bacta for their kind and generous donation of £1000 to our emergency appeal, as well as MP Sheryll Murray for nominating us for the donation,” says Rachel Hevesi, from Wild Futures. “The donation will go towards the monkeys’ food, daily medication costs and continued care. Overnight we lost our main sources of income that are crucial for us to continue our work. With 40 monkeys to care for, this is a very challenging time for us, and we are incredibly grateful for the kind and generous donation from bacta. Whatever happens, the wellbeing of the monkeys in our care is paramount and this donation helps ensure their welfare. Thank you.”
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Editor information:
About bacta:
Bacta represents the owners and operators of seaside amusement arcades, over-18 amusement centres, and the companies that hire machines to pubs, clubs, bowling alleys, bingo halls and similar venues. It also represents the manufacturers and distributors of all types of amusement equipment. This can range from children’s rides, to jukeboxes, fruit machines in pubs and clubs, crane grabbers, penny falls, tuppeny nudgers, test your strength machines, videos, pool tables and gaming machines
