Working with monkeys


Several of the most popular projects that we offer at The Great Projects involve working with monkeys, and these cheeky animals are often a highlight for our volunteers! We can offer you the chance to work with monkeys in some spectacular locations including; Peru, Bolivia, Namibia, South Africa and more. The locations of our projects are all fantastic places to visit with amazing people, stunning scenery and fascinating culture, but for many, it is adorable monkeys that make these trips once in a lifetime experiences. By lending your time to the primates through the various volunteering projects we have on offer, you can really help to create a future for these amazing animals.

In most of the projects, you will work with monkeys that have been orphaned, with most living in sanctuaries for their protection. You could be involved in everything from maintenance of the sanctuary to acting as a surrogate parent! There is a huge variety of monkeys you can encounter on our projects - if you choose the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, you will encounter vervet monkeys, while on the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary project you will work with baby baboons. Have you ever heard a proboscis monkey sing? It is something you truly won't forget, and you can experience it by volunteering with The Great Projects! 

Monkeys are in dire need of help all around the world, so what are you waiting for? Get stuck in and work with monkeys today!

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Monkeys At A Glance

ENDANGERED STATUS
131 Species Threatened With Extinction
NUMBER REMAINING IN THE WILD
Dependent On Species
ENDEMIC REGION
The Americas, Africa, Asia

How Endangered Are Monkeys

There is only one statistic needed to wake people up to the plight of monkey species all around the world and that is that of the 264 species of monkey in the world, half of them are threatened with extinction. Location-wise, 58 of the threatened species live in South and Central America, 46 in Asia, and 26 in Africa. This goes to show just how widespread the problems facing monkeys are. Of the 130 which are threatened with extinction, 24 species are considered critically endangered, and the chances are high that they will soon be extinct in the wild if drastic action is not taken sooner rather than later.

Threats Monkeys Are Facing

With huge swathes of forest being cut down every day, habitat loss is becoming an ever more present problem for monkeys all around the world. As a result of this practise, the monkeys are finding fewer and fewer places to live. This means that they have to share less food with a greater number of monkeys, and many are dying.

Another big problem facing the monkeys is hunting. Both for bush meat and the illegal pet trade, young monkeys are being ripped away from their mothers and taken away to either be killed or sold to the highest bidder. This is a trade that needs to come to an end.

Fast Facts
  • There are currently 264 known species of monkey in the world
  • Monkeys can be divided into two groups: Old World monkeys that live in Africa and Asia, and New World monkeys that live in South America
  • The mandrill is the largest type of monkey, with an adult male weighing up to 35kg!
Where you can go
Contact Info
UK Office
The Great Traveller Ltd,
3 Dairy Yard
Star Street
Ware, Hertfordshire
SG12 7DX
United Kingdom

Opening hours:
   Mon-Fri 8:30am–5:30pm
   Sat 10am-4pm

T: +44(0) 208 885 4987