Welcome to Exclusive Marmoset & Tamarin Safe Haven T/A Monkey Heartland
Help Save Monkey Heartland's Exotic Primates
The Monkey Heartland (EMT) in KZN is a sanctuary and lifetime home for rescued and rehomed exotic monkeys. This includes exotic monkeys that have been neglected or monkeys that need to be rehomed due to changing circumstances of their owners. EMT is a registered Not For Profit Organisation and receives no funding from government. Monkey Heartland relies solely on the generosity of Companies, Groups and Individuals for its funding. All donations are used for the purpose of providing the monkeys with a safe, secure, healthy and enriched environment .
Exciting News
Volunteer at Monkey Heartland for an experience of a lifetime
ADOPT AN EXOTIC MONKEY THROUGH MONKEY HEARTLANDS UNIQUE VIRTUAL ADOPTION
VISITING KZN FOR A HOLIDAY?
CONSIDER MONKEY HEARTLANDS COMFORABLE ONE BEDROOM SELF CATERING COTTAGE
Monkey Hearland
Monkey Heartland’s primary goal is to provide a caring, loving, forever home for exotic monkeys who have been abused, neglected or who need to be re-homed due to behavioural issues or difficult circumstances that owners find themselves in. Exotic monkeys in Marmosets, Capuchins, Squirrels, Tamarins, Lemurs
In providing this facility, Monkey Heartland commits to the monkeys being their first priority, keeping them natural and providing them with a home that resembles as closely as possible their natural environment.
Exotic monkeys are often purchased as pets and at maturity (18-24 months), due to a change in behaviour caused by hormones, are cast away or placed in bird cages and ignored. At maturity Marmosets are known to become aggressive, often bite, alienate and attack members of a family, which owners do not know how to handle. At this point owners often look to relocate the primate.
Marmosets and Tamarins cannot be rehabilitated as CROW does with various animals. There are so many rehoming needs and accounts of abuse and neglect and it is crucial for the monkeys’ physical, psychological and social well-being that they are placed in a forever home. This forever home can be the EMT Safe Haven.
A group of people who are passionate about the well-being and correct care of primates.
In Waterfall, KwaZulu Natal as a Safe Haven, providing a forever home for Marmosets, Tamarins and a and other exotic species.
To provide our primates with a safe and enriched environment in big enclosures with as much as possible natural surroundings. A forever happy home, both physical and mentally
To be the leading safe haven in South Africa for abused, neglected and rehomed marmosets and tamarins by giving them a natural, enriched, spacious and loving forever home
To provide the best forever home for the primates in our care, by:
- Supplying a natural habitat in spacious enclosures.
- Providing and changing enrichment to stimulate natural behaviours.
- Giving a well-balanced, nutritional diet.
- Caring for their physical and psychological well-being.
Understanding the individuality of every monkey and being flexible and adaptable in our approach to each one.
The behaviours of the people involved at the Monkey Heartland demonstrate the values::
- Care – attention, caution, concern, protection, sensitivity, nurture.
- Compassion – empathy, concern, kindness, gentleness.
- Patience – understanding, persistence, perseverance, calmness.
- Passion – enthusiasm, energy and enjoyment.
- Learning – lifelong learning from a practical and theoretical approach.
The Exclusive Marmoset and Tamarin (EMT) Facebook group was started by Pieter van den Berg in October 2014 and has the slogan, “Inform, Educate, Assist”.
Besides educating, informing and assisting owners and prospective owners of Marmosets and Tamarins, EMT also warns people about the negative attributes to purchasing these primates, works hand-in-hand with organisations to speed up legislation to protect these primates and has agreements with administrators on internet sites (eg: Gumtree and Te Koop) to halt the advertising of monkeys on these sites.
Pieter and Lisa-Anne van den Berg relocated to Botha’s Hill, KwaZulu Natal in November 2013 with one son, two marmosets and three dogs. Late in 2014 they were approached by a couple, who were relocating to New Zealand, to take in their two marmosets which they agreed to.
In 2015, after performing a rescue of a Marmoset from a well-known animal farm in KZN, Pieter and Lisa-Anne van den Berg took a life decision to start a Safe Haven, which saw ten primates arriving at their premises on 24 September 2015.
In February 2016 EMT Safe Haven’s Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Animal Facility Permit was granted.
In December 2016 EMT Safe Haven was registered as a Non-Profit Organisation with the Department of Social Development.
In 2017 the Safe Haven found itself being a forever loving home to Cotton Top Tamarins, Marmosets (black-ears, white ears, hybrids), Lemurs, Sugar Gliders and Squirrel Monkeys.
The Safe Haven’s reputation is growing and has experienced tremendous growth since its inception.
This is the first sanctuary of its kind in KwaZulu Natal.
Monkey Heartland is not open to the public.
However you can visit us below or contact Monkey Heartland for a special appointment.
Inform, Educate & Assist
We believe in the importance of assisting primates while informing and educating the public on how to properly care for the animals. Our blog is a hub of learning, accessible at no cost.
Exotic Marmoset Monkeys Do Not Make Good Pets
Exotic Marmoset Monkeys Do Not Make Good Pets EMTSafeHaven November 5, 2021 Educate, Inform Yes,
If you really serious about the best practices for exotic monkeys.
If you really serious about exotic monkeys. EMTSafeHaven November 12, 2021 Educate, Inform Click here
Volunteer Opportunity
A volunteers program is available for local and international veterinary students, normal students and anyone willing to assist our Sanctuary.
