When we asked for your help to free 31 monkeys from a cruel “dancing monkey” training center in Indonesia, your response was nothing short of incredible. Because of you, they now have a second chance at life.
In a small corner of Cirebon, Indonesia, the last known training center for the cruel dancing monkey industry was still in operation. Inside its walls, over 30 monkeys were trapped in a nightmare—forced to perform unnatural tricks for tourists after enduring brutal training methods designed to break their spirits.
But thanks to your generosity, that nightmare is over.
In October 2024, World Animal Protection, in partnership with our long-standing friends at Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN), rescued all 31 monkeys from this facility and permanently shut it down. These beautiful animals were freed from chains, cages, and cruelty, and given a real chance at recovery.
Since their rescue, every monkey has received thorough health checks and initial treatment for visible injuries. But the trauma they endured—emotional and physical—won’t heal overnight. These are sentient beings who’ve lived through fear, isolation, and violence. Their healing journey will take time, patience, and unwavering compassion.
Our partners at JAAN have been incredible. They’ve placed the monkeys in quarantine to keep them safe while limiting human interaction—because what once caused them terror could now be the key to their freedom. Many of these monkeys are wary of people, and while no animal should ever fear abuse from humans, this natural mistrust could help them successfully adapt to life in the wild.
To make that dream a reality, JAAN is forming social groups to mimic natural troop dynamics—introducing the monkeys slowly, letting them bond, and giving them the stability they were denied for so long.
Amel (left) and Meli (right).
Two of those monkeys, Amel and Meli, have already found comfort in each other. They spend hours grooming, relaxing, and simply being together, healing as a pair after all they’ve survived. Meli, with her nurturing personality, has been chosen to meet Unyil, a young orphaned monkey who was stolen from his mother. The team hopes she’ll adopt him as her own, teaching him the vital skills he’ll need to survive in the wild.
This is the kind of transformation your support makes possible.
While some monkeys may never be suitable for release, those individuals will live the rest of their lives in safety and peace at JAAN’s sanctuary—never again forced to entertain, never again chained or afraid.
But the next few months are critical. Each monkey needs individualized assessments, specialized rehabilitation plans, and expert care. Whether they return to the wild or remain at the sanctuary, they deserve nothing less than a life of dignity.
Your donation to World Animal Protection ensures that more animals like Amel, Meli, and Unyil are rescued from cruelty and given a future that respects who they truly are.
Donate now and be part of their recovery.