#he is being quarantined from other cats for their safety (his and theirs) though but isn't distressed by being indoors

[samble-moved]

friend (stray cat) tolerated coming inside for the night!!

[panthoots]

Hola from Villena

Hi there, I’m reporting from Spain at the end of my first week at AAP Primadomus, a rescue centre and sanctuary to exotic animals rescued from the pet ad entertainment trades. Many of the animals have endured horrific conditions, and are still learning the ropes of socialising with their own kind. Most of these animals will in time be ‘outplaced’ to reputable facilities, once their rehabilitation is complete, thus opening up more space for the AAP team to continue their important work. Some animals, though, will be longterm or even permanent residents at Primadomus, and those include the primates I am lucky enough to be working with now. The centre is located a short drive from the town of Villena, in the midst of the beautiful Sierra de Salinas. 

Barbary macaque, Juma, who was found alone on the French streets, far from the species’ Northern African homeland. He now lives with four other macaques, including his good friend Soho.

There are two main animal care departments at Primadomus; Primates, and Big Cats. I’m working in the Primate Department, which is further split into three sections; long-term care (for permanent or semi-permanent residents), Barbary macaque re-socialisation, and quarantine. I’m working in long-term primate care for the next six months, a section known here as Modules A and B. This area is presently home to nine chimpanzees, nine Barbary macaques, four pig-tailed macaques, and eighteen marmosets. There are a lot of new faces for me to get to know! 

On my first day, I went through all the paperwork that goes with starting a new job- and a new job that involves working alongside potentially dangerous animals. The centre has a strict ‘hands-off’ policy, which protects the health and safety of staff, volunteers, and the animals we work for, as well as preventing interference to their social development. Having been through the administration side of things, I was shown to the flat where I’d be staying with some of the other volunteers, located in the heart of Villena and close to any shops I might need. 

In the beginning, I was introduced to a whole lot of new information- layouts of two primate buildings, the make-up of the groups of apes and monkeys that inhabit said buildings, the cleaning, hygiene, and feeding procedures, and a lot of names to remember. Under the guidance of experienced caregivers Debbie and Sergio, I began working; cleaning the indoor enclosures in the mornings, making and offering enrichment to keep the primates busy and mentally active, and cleaning the outdoor enclosures in the afternoons. Feeding in Module A & B is interesting, as different methods are required for different times of the day, and different groups of animals. For example, the group of pig-tailed macaques, headed up by the elderly Lazaros, know that the sharp sound of a whistle means that feeding is beginning, while one of the groups of Barbary macaques, led by Troy, listen out instead for a shaker. If it is too cold out- and it is very cold in the mornings- the primates may receive food indoors rather than out. 

Old man Bingo enjoying a papier mache ball... inside, he will find chickpeas.

As the week went on, I have gained the hang of the daily routine, and am being trained and entrusted with greater responsibility. I am now learning how to check all the fences of the outdoor enclosures, and am tasked with the very important job of locking and double-checking doors and hatches. When working with animals as strong and intelligent as these, security is paramount, so it is a responsibility to be taken very seriously. So far, I’ve been working with the chimpanzees and macaques, but will also be trained to care for the marmosets in the weeks to come.

Barbary macaques in the mist... It is very cold in the mornings here, but come the afternoon, the sun is almost shining and the animals will be out enjoying it. The Barbary macaques, compared to the other primates in the section, are very hardy, and never seem at all bothered by a bit of cold weather.

Two animals whom I’ve become particularly enamoured with are Bingo and Antoine, two older male chimpanzees. Antoine has had a difficult life, spending many years standing in his own filth in a dark basement. Meeting other chimpanzees was a huge challenge for him, as his social experience was close to nil. After several years of failures, AAP finally found the perfect friend for Antoine, another old chap, by the name of Bingo. Finally content as a pair, the two were moved from AAP Almere to Primadomus where they could retire in the Spanish sunshine. Though like all chimpanzees they have their squabbles, they have a very close friendship and will spend much of their time grooming one another, sitting in their favourite spot in the sun. Stories like theirs serve as an important reminder; chimpanzees may seem like cute playthings when they are young, but they will suffer decades of struggle as a result of our trying to turn them into something they’re not. They are not pets, they are complex, powerful and intelligent social animals that deserve to be respected as such.

Antoine, who to my eye is one of the most handsome chimpanzees I’ve yet encountered.

Thank you for tuning in to my first blog post. In the future, I will share more photos of the animals I am so lucky to be assisting in the care of.