Wales ape and Monkey Sanctuary has provided a home for a number of monkeys from Beirut.

On July 25, 2006, one of BETA's co-founders and a volunteer managed to get inside the southern suburbs of Beirut – the WAR ZONE –. They risked their lives to visit a small zoo where the animals had suffered the trauma and horror of the bombing and rocket attacks.The owner of the zoo was clearly unable to continue caring for the animals and gave permission for their rescue and transportation to a safer place. Some of the workers at this zoo were amazingly brave and kind people who had stayed at the premises for the sake of feeding the animals and had suffered with them.

The zoo was home to a camel, a donkey, goats, rabbits, an owl, eagles and other exotic birds, a lot of chickens, an alligator and five monkeys. The zoo was also besieged by hungry and terrified cats and kittens. Finding a suitable home for the monkeys was going to be the hardest part of the rescue operation as they really needed more specialised food and care.

The monkeys included one baby male baboon, one female macaque and a family of 3 vervets (A mother and two babies).Due to the lack of time -as attacks were likely to start at any second in the area- the team managed to rescue the baboon, the macaque and 3 kittens.

The following day a team from Beta volunteered to go back to the scene with more equipment to rescue as many animals as possible. Local people were asked to find temporary boarding for the farm animals and the chickens and Beta contacted us at Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary to see if we could take the monkeys, some of which are pictured below.  

 

 

The Tragedy of Beirut  

Our friends at BETA in Beirut are trying to recover from the devastating events of the past few years. Bombs and rockets  exploded within a few hundred metres of their sanctuary and many of the 130 dogs and 100 cats were traumatised. They are still carrying on their good work however rescuing animals in need.

Graham Garen the co-proprietor of Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary flew out to Beirut in October to establish the situation but he had to return frustrated and empty handed because of the chaos which still prevailed. He found the animals still confined as you see them above.  

Thanks to the generosity and concern of Care for the Wild International  who unhesitatingly stepped forward and advanced £2000, and allocated a second similar amount, Graham was able to fly back to Beirut in November to build transportation cages and arrange flights and handling facilities for the animals. 

IPPL  (International Primate Protection League) in the USA also sent a £1500 contribution and AAP Sanctuary  in Holland agreed to pay the cost of the flights, which amounted to £2500.

 

In addition The Pettifer Trust sent £ 500 and PETA sent £400 and with contributions from the public the rescue was made possible. Seven monkeys including baboons, vervets and a macaque left Beirut by air on the morning of Sunday 26th of November and arrived at Heathrow to be met by Graham and staff from Care of The Wild International at the Animal Reception Centre .

 

 

In the meantime quarantine quarters were being completed (see pictures below) at Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary for the arrival of the animals and by working round the clock we were able to accommodate them as they arrived from journey from Heathrow Airport.

 

Our heart-felt thanks go out to all those who have helped release these poor animals from a life of hell.

We are constantly being contacted to help animals in need, but as you can imagine, the costs can be very significant, especially when the continuing after-care is considered. If you would like to help our charity to carry out its good work your contribution will be greatly appreciated by us all. Please click on one of our sponsoring options below.

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