RESEARCH IN ETHOLOGY
Ethological research is one of the tools at our disposal to understand animal behaviour and, in turn, to contribute positively to their lives.
Monitoring and studying primates, using non-invasive methods, allows us to better understand their needs, limitations, threats and risks.
Building on this knowledge, we can effectively develop strategies for their assessment, protection and support, both in captivity and in the wild.
RESEARCH IN ETHOLOGY
Caregivers are the people who know these animals best. They witness most of the key moments — transfers between enclosures, feeding, training and veterinary treatments — but they don’t have time to observe them throughout the day.
Researchers are filling these gaps and can contribute valuable insights. Thanks to the close collaboration between keepers and researchers, we gain a much more objective and complete picture of the animals’ quality of life and can spot vulnerabilities before they become problems, providing strong support for care and rehabilitation.
At MONA we welcome students from different countries, universities and disciplines. If you’re interested in gaining experience, please get in touch.
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SOCIALITZACIÓ I CONSCIENCIACIÓ
L’intercanvi d’informació i la transparència permeten que els esforços d’organitzacions com MONA tinguin més impacte pels primats. De la mateixa manera que el Departament de Rescat i Rehabilitació comparteix activament les estratègies i protocols relatius al maneig, i que el Departament d’Educació i Conservació es compromet amb el públic en general, el Departament de Recerca comparteix les seves conclusions amb el públic en general, les organitzacions afins i la comunitat científica, perquè puguin dur beneficis per a millorar la vida dels primats.
OBJECTIUS
Objectiu 1
Ser una eina de suport per al departament de cures i rehabilitació, proporcionant informació que ajudi a prendre decisions basades en l’evidència.
Objectiu 2
Compartir coneixements i informació, publicar articles científics útils orientats al benestar dels primats i a la millora de les condicions de vida i gestió en captivitat.
Objectiu 3
Donar suport i dedicar recursos a projectes de conservació de primats i d’educació ambiental.
Objectiu 4
Participar en estudis d’avenços en recerca veterinària i el desenvolupament de mitjans no invasius per a mantenir als primats en captivitat sans i monitoritzats.
Objectiu 5
Oferir als estudiants la possibilitat d’adquirir experiència i donar els seus primers passos en el camp de la primatologia. Formar futurs primatòlegs, destacant la importància de la recerca aplicada i el benestar animal.
Objectiu 6
Exploració i aplicació de tecnologies innovadores per a millorar les cures, la gestió i el seguiment de primats en captivitat.
Resultats
The future ‘Jane Goodall Law’ to protect great apes
VICTORY! After the meeting at the Ministry we celebrate that we are one step closer to the great apes being more and better protected.
Explore activity
Farewell, Jane Goodall. The legacy of a pioneer
Jane Goodall has passed away, and with her, we’ve lost one of the brightest lights in the fight for nature and for primates. For those of us who have dedicated our lives to protecting chimpanzees, Jane was far more than an inspiration — she was a guiding light, a steady voice, and a constant source of hope.
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New Diploma of Specialization in Primatology (Postgraduate): in-person course in conservation, welfare, research, and practical training.
This academic program builds on more than a decade of experience in university education, maintaining a commitment to excellence and continuously evolving to better meet the needs of the sector.
The diploma combines sessions both at the University of Girona and at the MONA Sanctuary. This structure allows for the integration of theory and practice in an applied context, providing direct access to the observation of primate behaviour and to the daily technical and scientific work in conservation and animal welfare, enriching the learning experience with an applied perspective of primatology.
A groundbreaking genetic tool to combat the illegal trafficking of chimpanzees is being tested for the first time worldwide at MONA
It is a project led by UPF in collaboration with PASA (Pan African Sanctuary Alliance) and UN-GRASP (Great Ape Survival Partnership), with the support of the organization Revive & Restore. The first field trial of this pioneering genetic tool, designed to combat the illegal trafficking of chimpanzees, has now been carried out at the MONA Foundation.
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MONAEduca Virtual Moves Forward: Selected for the Second Phase of B-Value 2025
We are delighted to announce that our project MONAEduca Virtual has been selected for the second phase of the B-Value 2025 programme, a social innovation initiative promoted by the Ship2B Foundation and the Banco Sabadell Foundation.
This recognition provides an important boost to continue consolidating and expanding this project, which seeks to democratise access to transformative environmental education.
MONA’s chimpanzees help science discover that yawns are contagious… even from a robot!
Can a chimpanzee catch a yawn… triggered by an android? The answer is yes. This is confirmed by an innovative study recently published in the journal *Nature Scientific Reports*, led by researchers Ramiro Joly-Mascheroni and Beatriz Calvo-Merino from City St George’s University of London, in which the chimpanzees rescued by Fundació MONA played a leading […]
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MONA participated in BioHub’s Employability Fair
From Fundació MONA, we would like to express our sincere thanks to the Biohub Fair organizers for creating this valuable meeting space, as well as to the Faculty of Biosciences of the UAB for their warm welcome and for giving us the opportunity to share our work with students in biology-related fields.
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From Sierra Leone to Riudellots: MONA brings its research to AVAFES National
Fundación MONA participated in the 4th National AVAFES Conference, a key event for students and professionals in veterinary, biological, and environmental sciences who are interested in animal welfare, conservation, and scientific outreach. Our participation included two presentations showcasing the diversity and depth of our work at MONA.
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Ask Halcon Viajes to stop using animals for its commercials
A capuchin monkey and a cow are forced to perform in their latest campaign, created by the agency DDB Spain.
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“Les pràctiques a la Fundació MONA han estat una experiència increïble. Gràcies a la formació que ofereixen he après a desenvolupar-me en el món de l’etologia i la primatologia. M’he sentit part de l’equip des del principi, ja que tothom és molt acollidor.”
Judith, pràctiques UdG, 2023
“Els tres mesos que vaig passar a MONA van ser inavaluables i inoblidables—l’equip és molt dedicat i acollidor, i vaig gaudir aprenent sobre els increïbles primats que consideren el santuari casa seva. Si tens l’oportunitat de participar en la recerca a MONA, no puc recomanar-ho prou!”
Jennifer, TFM Queen’s University Belfast, 2022
“Poder observar i estudiar els ximpanzés tan de prop, durant tot el dia, en un entorn natural i amb un súper equip de persones al costat ha estat tota una experiència!“
Nacho, TFG, UAB, 2023
A MONA acollim a estudiants de diferents països, universitats i disciplines.
Si t’interessa adquirir experiència, posa’t en contacte amb nosaltres.
