Wild Futures has announced the closure of its Monkey Sanctuary in Cornwall after six decades of operation, following a failed property sale and structural issues. The charity will rehome its remaining primates to selected organizations while maintaining its broader conservation campaigns.
The End of a Six-Decade Primate Sanctuary Near Looe
A world-class animal sanctuary in Cornwall that has spent six decades caring for elderly and injured primates is shutting its doors after a buyer pulled out at the last minute. Wild Futures, situated near Looe, confirmed the sudden closure after a prolonged period of financial strain and a collapsed property transaction.
The charity traces its roots back to the 1960s, when founders began rescuing woolly monkeys from the pet trade. Over the decades, the facility evolved into a recognized center for primate rescue, earning distinction as the first Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) accredited wildlife sanctuary in Europe.
How Failed Negotiations and Structural Setbacks Forced the Shutdown
Financial difficulties first prompted the charity to close its gates to the public for the remainder of the year in March 2025. In an effort to secure the site’s future, leadership listed the property on the market that same June.
According to charity director Sarah Hanson, the organization initially believed it had secured a sympathetic buyer who intended to work in partnership to keep the sanctuary operational. However, after six months of intense negotiations, those prospective buyers dropped out without notice.
“When we listed our home and sanctuary site for sale in June 2025, we were extremely hopeful that we would find a sympathetic buyer… Towards the end of 2025, we believed we had found that buyer… to our dismay, following six months of intense negotiations, those buyers dropped out without notice.”
Sarah Hanson, Director, via Falmouthpacket
Detailed land assessments conducted during the negotiation period also revealed mounting structural issues at the property. Ms. Hanson noted that the site had become increasingly unsuitable for long-term sanctuary operations, stating that the charity could not responsibly invest hundreds of thousands of pounds into infrastructure that no longer fit its purpose.
Rehoming the Monkeys and the Future of Wild Futures
With the physical site no longer viable, the welfare of the resident primates has become the organization’s immediate priority. A structured process is currently underway to transfer the animals to carefully selected sanctuaries and organizations where they will continue receiving specialized care.
To manage the transition, Wild Futures is launching an emergency appeal to cover the costs associated with rehoming and ongoing animal care. Despite the closure of the physical sanctuary in Cornwall, the charity confirmed that it will continue its wider mission in education, conservation campaigning, and fighting the primate pet trade.
“While we feel deep sadness at the closure of the sanctuary, we are filled with hope for the future and the next chapter of Wild Futures, as there is still important work to be done.”
Wild Futures, via BBC