Monkey sanctuary closing to the public for a year

Chanel, a weeper capuchin, has been a resident of Wild Futures since 2003

A monkey sanctuary is closing to the public in 2025 because of financial struggles, bosses say.

Wild Futures, near Looe in Cornwall, said it could not afford to open to the public as monthly outgoings would increase from approximately £40,000 a month to £55,000-£65,000 because of factors including staffing.

Three members of staff had been made redundant and the charity added it could no longer take on additional rescue animals for the time being.

Director Sarah Hanson said: "In a very short period of time, those costs are just increasing so much and we're just not being able to keep up with it."

Wild Futures director Sarah Hanson said the decision was made after the charity analysed its figures

Miss Hanson said: "Traditionally, we have opened our doors to the general public; we love having the general public here - it also hits one of our charity aims of education.

"We're talking about the monkeys in our care, we're talking about the plight of primates in the UK and the UK primate pet trade, and talking generally about the wider need for primate conservation worldwide.

"Unfortunately, it costs a lot for us to be open to the public. It was really about analysing our figures and working out where can we save money.

"The overarching thing that was showing us is that we just simply cannot afford to invest the money into opening to the public this year... the income that we generate from that is just not enough for it to balance out really."

The charity said that, with the limited resources it had, the focus was on the 31 animals in its care and their welfare and the promise that they would have a "home for life".

Lily, a Woolly Monkey, has a taste for cherry blossom

Miss Hanson said the announcement of the closure of the sanctuary to the public was made on social media.

She said: "We've been overwhelmed with the response, with comments on social media, the emails and the phone calls.

"It's just really overwhelming just to wish us well and also ways to help as well.

"We want to make sure that their kindness and their care and their generosity is really going to the best way to help the monkeys that they love as much as we do."