About Us & Our History

International Primate Rescue started life as the Marmoset Welfare Foundation in March 1996 in South Africa, where founder Sue Mousley had been caring for primates since 1990.  Fascinated by the strange and unstable behaviour patterns of a Common Marmoset monkey named "Meggie", she was prompted to study behavioural problems and other disorders in captive and/or orphaned nonhuman primates.

The sanctuary, the first of its kind in South Africa, received its first monkey, an eight-month old Common Marmoset named "Cheeky", in April 1996.  After a report on national TV in South Africa, the sanctuary was inundated with requests to receive problem monkeys.  By September 2001 it was obliged to relocate to a larger property in order to accommodate the swelling numbers of Common and Black-eared Marmosets, Tamarins, and Squirrel Monkeys.  In December 2001 IPR was approached to help in the rescue of a badly abused Patas Monkey in Israel; Iris became the first international rescue case and was flown from Israel to the sanctuary in South Africa in February 2002.  The rescue was widely reported, and IPR has since received numerous requests to assist in international rescues.

The sanctuary in Pretoria, South Africa currently cares for over 75 Marmosets, Tamarins, Squirrel Monkeys, and Mona Monkeys.  Many arrive with behavioural problems and require rehabilitation.  The demand for this service is growing relentlessly; we receive a constant stream of requests to rescue homeless primates in South Africa and abroad.  This is one of the major reasons for our intended sanctuary expansions.

In principle, the IPR sanctuary will accept any species of primate.  However, the shortage of suitable accommodation means that apes offered to IPR are currently redirected to other suitable shelters.  We aim to provide accommodation for apes in the future.