Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary, Animal sanctuary in Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales.
The Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary is a primate facility in Brecon Beacons National Park, situated between Caehopkin and Abercraf. It houses chimpanzees, baboons, spider monkeys, capuchins, marmosets, and other rescued primates across spacious enclosures designed for their wellbeing.
The facility originated in 2008 as Cefn-yr-Erw Primate Sanctuary, beginning with a single Vietnamese Potbelly Pig. Expansion came when seven chimpanzees arrived from Penscynor Wildlife Park, transforming it into a multi-species primate refuge.
The name reflects its sole purpose of caring for primates, animals brought into captivity that need permanent sanctuary elsewhere. When you visit, you encounter residents living in spacious areas and learn directly about their needs and why they cannot be released to the wild.
Plan for a leisurely walk to explore the different enclosures and observe the animals at your own pace. The grounds are hilly with outdoor paths, so wear suitable footwear for comfortable movement through the facility.
The sanctuary accepts primates rescued from laboratories and zoos across Europe, animals with no possibility of ever returning to the wild. These residents would have nowhere else to go, making this facility one of few European centers offering permanent refuge for such cases.
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