On a mission to save world’s primates
● Monkeyland’s vision – to repopulate forests with genetically pure animals housed at Plettenberg Bay sanctuary
Ever heard of empty forest syndrome?
In a nutshell, it is the scary reality of forests across the world rapidly losing all their mammals – primarily because of bad behaviour by humans who hunt irresponsibly, poach and destroy habitats.
But, if Monkeyland in Plettenberg Bay – winner of a global sustainable tourism award – has its way, the genetically pure primates housed at the sanctuary will eventually be able to repopulate forests across the globe.
Monkeyland, which has a host of exciting long-term goals, has just won the Skål International 2019 Sustainable Tourism Award in the category Major Tourist Attractions.
The awards ceremony took place on Sunday in Miami.
Monkeyland and Birds of Eden CEO Tony Blignaut said the win was quite a feather in the cap for the Garden Route entity, especially in light of the fact that the competition drew 56 entries from 25 countries.
Monkeyland, which first opened its doors in April 1998, is the world’s first freeroaming multi-species primate sanctuary.
Blignaut, who is also a South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance board member, said the sanctuary was working towards a long-term goal “which whether it happens in my lifetime or the next lifetime” aims to ensure “viable seeds”.
What he means by this is keeping species genetically pure so they can repopulate their forests of origin.
He said if the situation in Madagascar, for example, reached a point where animals could be reintroduced safely into rapidly emptying forests, “we will have ringtailed lemurs that are genetically pure that can be put back into the wild”.
This, Blignaut said, was because the animals at Monkeyland were not dependent on humans.
And, while food is put out for the animals at Monkeyland, should they be set free in the forests of their origin, provided food is naturally available, they will thrive.
But what of predators? Blignaut said the plan then would be to gradually introduce predators at the sanctuary so the primates would learn how to deal with them.
He is adamant that the next 10 years will see a giant leap in terms of responsible tourism.
“If you look at the last 10
Monkeyland has just won the Skål International 2019 Sustainable Tourism Award
years and how interactions with animals [have been limited], you can see the industry is changing.”
Blignaut pointed out how in Thailand you used to see people walking with monkeys on their shoulders all the time.
The trafficking of animals there has now been outlawed.
Blignaut also noted that not so long ago people rode ostriches.
“Can you imagine a 100kg person riding an ostrich?”
He said tourists themselves were now becoming more discerning and shunning operations that allowed animals to be petted or ridden.
“If you look at the last 10 years there has been a dramatic change, so our long-term goals are becoming much more realistic.”
For Blignaut, tourists who want to ensure they engage in responsible behaviour need only ask themselves one question – what would I like?
“Do unto others as you would have them do to you.
“If you wouldn’t want to be locked in a cage, then don’t lock an animal up.
“Follow that rule and you can’t go wrong.”
He said the tourism operation was expanding and would continue to do so.
Earlier in 2019, Monkeyland opened a new sanctuary in KwaZulu-Natal as more space was needed and the hope is to open another Birds of Eden operation there too.
The Skål International awards were launched in 2002 after the United Nations declaration of that year as the Year of Ecotourism and the Mountains, with the purpose of highlighting and acknowledging best practices around the world.
Skål International Garden Route chapter president Andrew Rogers said: “As an international organisation of the tourism industry leaders, Skål International is a powerful force in the travel and tourism industry to initiate change and encourage the conservation of the environment.”