Give Your Child a Snow Monkey for Valentine’s Day

By Michele C. Hollow of Pet News and Views 

Want your child to learn more about primates? Thinking of foregoing the chocolates this Valentine’s Day? You can adopt a primate through Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary.

You can adopt Khy. (Photo courtesy of Born Free USA.)

Located on a 186 acre sanctuary in Dilley, TX, the adopt-a-primate program, supports 600-plus residents of snow monkeys, macaques, vervets, and baboons.  Adoption fees are usually $52 a year. Starting today and running through February 28, Born Free USA is offering a Valentine’s Day gift package for children. The cost is $39.95. This offer includes a photograph of Khy, a four-year old snow monkey living at the sanctuary, a certificate of adoption, a newsletter, a stuffed animal primate from Born Free USA’s plush animal collection, and a Valentine’s Day pack of cards that kids can use to send to their own Valentines.

“Our adopt-a-primate program has always been a success because people can get to know more about a specific resident at our sanctuary while their donation directly goes to the care and rehabilitation of that individual and others at the Sanctuary,” says Adam Roberts, executive vice president of Born Free USA.  “We want to place a larger emphasis now on teaching children about these beautiful animals, and tell their story and spread the message about keeping wildlife in the wild.”

By participating in this program, the public will be helping Born Free USA provide food, care and rehabilitation for Khy and the more than 600 other monkeys who live at the sanctuary, while educating a child about the lifestyle and needs of primates.

About Khy: A rambunctious four year old male snow monkey, Khy arrived at the sanctuary in August 2009, after being kept as someone’s “pet.”  Though he was in the hands of a doting human, he began to display the unpredictable behavior of a wild animal.  He was growing up fast and no longer was the adorable little infant who so desperately needed nurturing after being stolen from his real animal mother. This is unfortunately the story for many of the hundreds of residents at the Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary staff love when monkeys insist on being monkeys and display their natural behavior. To adopt Khy or one of his friends, click here.