Strengthening lifelong care for every monkey
For nearly three decades, Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary has provided lifelong care for rescued New World monkeys. Our commitment continues through investments in safe housing, emergency preparedness, preventive medicine, and the people who care for our residents.
These improvements share one purpose: helping every monkey enjoy a safe, comfortable life with care tailored to their individual needs.
Unique Runway System
Jungle Friends’ interconnected runway system supports everyday care, monkey introductions, and emergency preparedness. These enclosed passageways allow monkeys to move between connected habitats without direct handling, helping reduce stress and supporting safety for both monkeys and caregivers.
The runways also allow gradual introductions, giving monkeys opportunities to become familiar with potential companions before sharing a habitat. Moving between habitats provides access to different surroundings, sights, sounds, and smells.
Supporting Safe Capture and Veterinary Care
Designated capture points allow trained staff to transfer monkeys from the runways into transport enclosures when needed for veterinary care or relocation.
For injections, trained staff can use specialized runway dividers, which we call “forks,” to briefly restrict a monkey’s movement within the runway. This allows a prescribed injection to be given under veterinary direction, after which the restraint is released. The monkey can then resume movement within the enclosure, with monitoring appropriate to the medication administered.
Our runway system brings habitat design and animal care together, supporting movement, companionship, and access to medical treatment.
Shelter in Place Project
Every monkey at Jungle Friends has access to a climate-controlled indoor enclosure, which we call a “bedroom” that is attached to an outdoor habitat through our unique runway system.
The completion of our Shelter in Place Project provides safe shelter during extreme heat, cold weather, hurricanes, and other emergencies. These bedrooms also improve comfort throughout the year, giving every resident access to secure indoor housing whenever conditions require.
This project represents one of the largest capital improvements ever undertaken at Jungle Friends.
Emergency Backup Power
Automatic standby generators now provide emergency backup power to every
These generators help maintain climate control, medical care, food storage, and essential sanctuary operations during power outages and severe weather.
Comprehensive Preventive Medicine Program
Our fully implemented Preventive Medicine Program focuses on early detection, disease prevention, and long-term health management.
Each monkey’s care includes individualized Plans of Action, routine laboratory monitoring, and follow-up care based on their age, medical history, and changing needs. This proactive approach helps our team identify concerns sooner and make informed decisions about treatment.
Annual Medical and Dental Examinations
Working with the Dental Coalition for Conservation (DCC), our veterinary team conducts comprehensive annual examinations for every monkey at the sanctuary.
Four times each year, volunteer veterinarians, veterinary dentists, anesthesiologists, technicians, and students join our team for preventive medicine clinics. These collaborative clinics provide individualized medical and dental care, including:
A Collaborative Veterinary Team
Our veterinary program brings together
Working alongside experienced veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, and our dedicated caregiving staff.
Both the Veterinary Eye Institute and DCC bring their own specialized instruments and equipment to provide care in our on-site Bob Barker Medical Clinic.
By combining their knowledge, experience, and resources, we continue to expand and improve the preventive, medical, and dental care available to our residents.
The Animal Care Program provides Medical Information at Our Caregivers’ Fingertips
Jungle Friends has implemented the Animal Care Software system, providing comprehensive electronic medical records for every monkey.
The system supports:
Caregivers and veterinary staff can access current medical information where they work, improving communication and coordination across our animal care team.
Investing in the People Who Provide Care
Alongside improvements to housing and healthcare, we have continued to strengthen our caregiving and management team.
Our staff’s experience, daily observations, and communication with veterinary professionals are essential to understanding each monkey’s needs and providing consistent, individualized care.
We are also actively recruiting a Part-Time Staff Sanctuary Veterinarian to further strengthen ongoing veterinary oversight. Recruitment efforts include outreach to veterinary schools, professional organizations, zoo and exotic animal medicine networks.
At the same time, we are seeking ongoing grant support to help sustain this position and our growing veterinary program.
Our Commitment Continues
Every improvement begins with the monkeys entrusted to us.
From a comfortable bedroom during a hurricane to an examination that identifies a medical concern early, these investments support the daily comfort and lifelong care of approximately 160 rescued capuchins, squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys, marmosets, and tamarins.
Our commitment is lifelong—and so is our commitment to improving their care.
Care Tailored to Every Monkey
At Jungle Friends, preventive medicine is part of our commitment to lifelong care. Our veterinary and caregiving teams work together to identify health concerns early, prevent disease, and support each monkey through every stage of life.
Dr. Bobby Collins, our attending veterinarian, provides weekly on-site veterinary visits, with additional visits as needed. Our program also draws on the expertise of Dr. Fred Schirmer, University of Florida specialists, Veterinary Eye Institute, and the Dental Coalition for Conservation.
Annual Medical and Dental Care
Through our partnership with the Dental Coalition for Conservation, annual examinations bring together dental care, laboratory testing, and other assessments based on each monkey’s individual needs.
Dental evaluations, cleanings, and treatment help identify and address conditions that can cause pain or infection. While a monkey is safely under anesthesia, our veterinary team can also collect blood samples, perform diabetes screening, and obtain radiographs or ultrasound when indicated. Coordinating these procedures helps minimize the need for repeated anesthesia.
Health Screening for New Arrivals
We work with transferring facilities to arrange quarantine and initial health screening before transport whenever possible. If screening has not been completed, our team performs intake procedures after arrival as soon as it is safe and appropriate for the monkey.
Intake care may include,
Parasite Monitoring and Follow Up
Our program includes fecal testing of incoming monkeys and routine sampling for group-housed residents. When parasites are detected, treatment is provided as directed by the veterinary team, with follow-up testing to evaluate its effectiveness. Findings, treatments, and outcomes are documented in the monkeys’ records.
Nutrition for Individual Needs
Nutrition is tailored to each species and each individual. Diets are developed and reviewed to account for age, medical conditions, and changing needs.
Modified diets support elderly monkeys, monkeys with diabetes, toothless residents, and others who need specialized nutrition. Our animal care, nutrition, and veterinary teams coordinate these adjustments as part of each monkey’s ongoing care.
Care for Aging and Special Needs Monkeys
Many of our residents are elderly or live with chronic medical conditions. Their care emphasizes comfort, quality of life, and individualized veterinary support.
Our hospice philosophy focuses on managing pain and other symptoms while helping monkeys remain comfortable among familiar companions. Care decisions are made individually, with veterinary guidance and input from the people who know each monkey best.
Connected Medical Records
Our Animal Care Software system brings medical histories, veterinary notes, medications, laboratory results, diets, and behavioral observations together in one record for each monkey. Caregivers document observations and completed tasks, helping the team recognize changes and communicate concerns.
QR codes at habitats provide immediate access to current records, supporting coordination among caregivers, veterinary staff, and management.
The Bob Barker Medical Clinic
Our on-site Bob Barker Medical Clinic includes a surgical suite, medical treatment and observation areas, and medical storage. The clinic gives our team a dedicated place to provide care, with automatic standby generator support during power outages.
When a monkey needs diagnostics or treatment beyond our on-site capabilities, we work with outside veterinary hospitals and specialists to provide additional care.
Lifelong Care and Ongoing Improvement
Preventive medicine, attentive caregiving, and specialist collaboration work together to support our residents’ health and comfort. We continue to strengthen this program so every monkey receives care that responds to their individual needs.
Gifts for the Monkeys
Unique Gift Ideas
Do monkeys make good pets?
Advocacy
Dental Coalition for Conservation Visits Jungle Friends
