Our History

The original inhabitants of the Primate Sanctuary were a troop of snow monkeys who arrived in Encinal, Texas from Japan in 1972. They were part of a troop that resided in the Arashiyama forest and was observed by behaviorists since 1954. Due to the primatologists’ providing extra food (provisioning) to the monkeys in order to more easily study them, the original troop grew very large and, around 1970, fractured into two distinct troops.

Members of troop “A” soon moved into the Kyoto suburbs in search of food. Because some residents viewed these animals as “pests,” the decision was made to relocate them. A concerned American citizen agreed to pay to transport the group to Encinal, Texas, where a sanctuary was then started. In December 1999, the Animal Protection Institute – which later merged with Born Free USA – took over the management of the Texas Snow Monkey Sanctuary. Since that time, the Primate Sanctuary has expanded to become a haven for not only descendants of the original trans-located troop, but also monkeys rescued from the pet trade and retired from research or display. Today, the Primate Sanctuary provides refuge for many species of macaques, vervets, and baboons who were rescued from roadside zoos and private possession or retired from research.

The Primate Sanctuary is also home to a feral cat colony, which lives on a quarter-acre of land. Sanctuary staff provides fresh food, water, and enrichment; and monitors the cats’ health and well-being.