About the Zoo & Wildlife

The Monkey Sanctuary was founded in 1964 by Len Williams, father of classical guitarist John Williams, as a cooperative to care for rescued woolly monkeys. Based in Looe, Cornwall, England, it is home to woolly monkeys descended from the original residents, a growing number of capuchin monkeys rescued from the British pet trade, many marmosets, and a small group of rescued macaques. A colony of rare lesser horseshoe bats live in the cellar of Murrayton House, a 19th-century building that is staff offices and accommodation for staff and volunteers. The Monkey Sanctuary is the flagship project of Wild Futures (UK registered Charity number 1102532). In 2025, the Sanctuary site Murrayton House was placed up for sale citing growing financial pressure. [1]