ARCHIVED - Circus monkey rescued in Ukraine finds new home in Alicante
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
Tomac, a pig-tailed macaque made the journey from war-torn Ukraine to the Costa Blanca last week
A 20-year-old circus monkey forced to perform in shows in Ukraine has started a new life in Alicante after a three-day 4,000km journey.
Tomac, a pig-tailed macaque, was 'orphaned' after one of his owner's died and the other fled the besieged country leaving the animal's future in jeopardy.
A Ukrainian dog shelter initially took the monkey in and built a makeshift enclosure, but this was just a temporary measure and in March, the Russian foundation Forgotten Animals asked AAP (Animal Advocacy and Protection) to find a permanent home for Tomac.
But the complexity of the situation and difficulties in getting the paperwork in order meant a rescue operation was not possible until last week.
On Wednesday June 1, volunteers from the animal shelter near Sumy in Ukraine managed to transport Tomac 1,000 km to Krakovets on the Polish border where they met with AAP representatives.
And after a further 3,000km and three exhaustive days on the road, Tomac and his rescuers arrived at AAP Primadomus rescue centre in Villena, Alicante where the rescued monkey will spend up to 12 weeks in quarantine for observation and health checks.
A group of pig-tailed macaques already live at AAP Primadomus, so once his quarantine is over, it's hoped that if all goes well Tomac will "be able to enjoy his old age surrounded by his own kind".
The relocation of a lion left in a shed by its owner is pending and has been put on hold due to a lack of documentation, but AAP hopes to be able to provide a safe haven for the animal soon.
Applications for exotic animal rescues in Ukraine are coordinated by the European Alliance of Rescue Centres and Sanctuaries (EARS), of which AAP is a member. For each request, the network searches for the rescue centre that best suits the needs of the animals in question.
AAP is an international organisation committed to giving exotic mammals in Europe a better future, and sadly, there are "still many animals in extreme situations".
"They are illegally trafficked, misunderstood as pets or deprived of their basic needs in the entertainment industry. At AAP we tackle the problems at their root. Rescuing animals, raising awareness and advocating for better legislation for animals across Europe," said the organisation.
AAP currently has two rescue and rehabilitation centres for primates, big cats and small mammals, housing a total of 530 animals from the entertainment industry, pets and illegal trafficking. The centre in Villena is caring for 111 rescued animals and another in Almere in the Netherlands has 420 rescued animals.
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