Squirrel Monkey Haven (SMH)
SMH provides care to squirrel monkeys retired from research. We began providing care to research retirees in January 2021.
Retiring monkeys from research is a Collaborative Process
Choosing the right retirement facility and transitioning monkeys from research life to sanctuary life, requires careful planning and experienced people. We advise research institutions and sanctuaries to help facilitate successful outcomes for all involved.
Outreach
We share knowledge about squirrel monkeys and offer guidance to people developing professional careers that focus on monkey behavior, care, health, and welfare.
Your support helps us provide nutritional food, veterinary care, and enriched housing for these remarkable primates.
Why squirrel monkeys?
Native to Central and South America, squirrel monkeys have been imported to the United States from South America since at least the early 1900’s, to be kept as pets, exhibited in zoos, and used in biomedical research.
Note: It is ILLEGAL to keep any species of monkey as a pet in California and most other states.
Why are squirrel monkey retirement facilities needed?
Squirrel monkeys are widely used in biomedical research in the United States. Most monkeys used in biomedical research are euthanized at the end of studies so that researchers can get scientific information from them. For some types of research though, scientific information is obtained from healthy living monkeys, but monkeys in these types of studies are often euthanized too because they are no longer needed and generally can’t live out their lives in research facilities. Monkey retirement facilities help the research community avoid euthanizing healthy retirable monkeys by providing monkeys a lifelong home.
What are squirrel monkeys like?
They are intelligent, curious about everything, have big personalities, and are super social with each other.
Is it safe to retire monkeys from research?
VETERINARIANS provide healthcare to monkeys used in research and ensure monkeys released for retirement are healthy.
Squirrel monkeys of all ages and varied research histories, including those with preexisting spontaneous health conditions e.g., heart disease, transport well and acclimate quickly to species appropriate retirement settings.
Can squirrel monkeys be Pets?
NO! In California, and most other states, it is ILLEGAL to keep any monkey species as a pet. As important as the law is though, squirrel monkeys need to live with their own species to thrive, not humans.
