THE FOUNDATION
ORIGINS
In 2001, the Customs Department of the Ministry of Economy recognized the MONA Foundation primate recovery center as suitable for hosting primates from illegal trafficking. That same year, we rescued the first group of chimpanzees, confiscated from a former circus chimpanzee trainer.
These chimpanzees had been scraping by for more than eight years in a broken-down truck in deplorable conditions of hygiene and care.
And so we embarked on a long-term project to find a solution to a situation that had been neglected in the State until then, being the solution over the past few years for many other primates who finally have a second chance at MONA.
WHY?
For many years, many primates have been illegally brought to Spain to be used in circuses and TV shows, as tourist attractions and even as exotic pets.
Nowadays, they are no longer used in these situations in our territory, but they are still illegally trafficked. The most part of primate species are threatened or in danger of extinction. Now the main demand is for their use on social networks and as exotic pets.
“We are people who believe in what we do, professionals committed to the protection and well-being of primates.”
“Our human team is made up of workers and volunteers who identify with the values of the organization and are committed to the protection and well-being of primates.”
“At our center, committed to the survival of primates, we offer exceptional care to rescued animals, working on all necessary fronts.”
THE TEAM
Olga Feliu
Cofounder and General Manager
Member of the Board
Amparo Barba
Cofounder and Administrative Director
Member of the Board
Xavier Benzekri
Executive Director
Manel Maraña
Head of Legacies and Joint Wills
David Riba
Head and member of the Environmental Education Dept. MONAEduca
Researcher, member of the Ethology Unit
Cristina Valsera
Head of Communication Dept.
Co-Head of Rescue and Rehabilitation Dept.
Dietmar Crailsheim
Research Projects Coordinator of the Ethology Unit
Co-Head of Rescue and Rehabilitation Dept.
Assaf Chiprout
Head of keepers, Rescue and Rehabilitation Dept.
Maintenance Manager
Arantxa García
Dept. Environmental Education, Head of visits (non-scholar)
Community manager
Patricia G. González
Educator, Dept. Environmental Education, MONAEduca
Magali Joffre
Administrative
Management of partners and adopters
Pablo Rodríguez Ayuso
Coordinator of courses and MONATYC
Researcher, member of the Ethology Unit
Giulia Ciarcelluti
Head of keepers, Rescue and Rehabilitation Dept.
European Solidarity Corps Volunteering Coordinator
Natalia Sellés
Head of keepers, Rescue and Rehabilitation Dept.
Judith Gómez
Educator, Dept. Environmental Education
Virtual Visits Coordinator
Joan Presas
Assistant
MORE THAN VOLUNTEERS
Itziar
Volunteer, events collaborator
Rosa Garcia
Volunteer, purchasing and logistics
Gustavo Bravo
Volunteer, web administration and graphic design
Pere
Volunteer, out expert “handyman”
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