A year of healing for rescued monkeys
Blog
After enduring lives of fear and exploitation, 31 rescued monkeys are finally getting the care they deserve. A year into their recovery, your compassion is changing everything.
One year ago, 31 long-tailed macaques were rescued from a life of fear and suffering. Their journey to healing began because a community of people like you chose to care about them.
These monkeys were taken from the wild and forced into street performances. Locked in small cages. Dragged into crowds. Many had their teeth pulled out so they couldn’t fight back. They lived in fear every day.
But that’s not where their story ends.
Because people like you showed up, people who believed these animals deserved better, everything changed. This is the story of what healing has looked like over the past year:
Quarantine – A safe place to begin again
When they first arrived, the macaques needed urgent medical care and a safe place to begin recovering.
Quarantine gave them that space. They received treatment for infections. Clean water. Soft bedding. Fresh, nourishing food. Some were too scared to move. Others curled up tightly, unsure of what would happen next.
But slowly, with gentle care and quiet patience, they began to feel safe.
Image courtesy of Jakarta Animal Aid Network
Nursery – The first signs of hope
Once they were healthy enough, the macaques moved to nursery spaces.
Here, the smallest changes meant everything. A macaque stepping out from the shadows. Reaching for food. Watching the world with curiosity.
These weren’t just survival instincts; they were the first signs of trust. Signs that, after everything they’d been through, they were beginning to feel hope.
Image courtesy of Jakarta Animal Aid Network
Rehabilitation – Trust, play and possibility
As they grew stronger, the macaques were slowly introduced to one another.
Some were shy. Some bonded quickly. One by one, they began to climb, play, groom and explore. These are all natural monkey behaviours they had been denied for so long.
Every small leap or playful moment was a step back to who they were meant to be.
A new chapter – A future free from fear
Today, almost a full year later, the macaques are still healing.
Some may be candidates for release into protected wild areas. Others will stay at the sanctuary long term, especially those who need ongoing care. But all of them are safe. All of them are free from the exploitation they once faced.
That’s the difference a caring community can make.
There’s still more to do
Healing takes time. These monkeys still need food, daily care and a safe place to call home. They’ve come so far, but they can’t do it alone.
This journey began because people like you made it possible. If you’re able, please consider helping them continue.
All images, including the banner, courtesy of Jakarta Animal Aid Network.