The Monkey Sanctuary was founded in 1964 by Len Williams, father of classical guitarist John Williams,[4][5] 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[3] and a small group of rescued Barbary macaques.

[6] A colony of rare lesser horseshoe bats live in the cellar of Murrayton House, a 19th-century building that is the small on-site gift shop and accommodation for staff and volunteers.

[7] The Monkey Sanctuary is the flagship project of Wild Futures (UK registered Charity number 1102532).

[8][9] Those listed in italics contain more than 5000 animals