Cornwall based monkey charity Wild Futures has put its sanctuary up for sale two months after it was forced to close its doors to the public due to rising costs.

The charity says it has had to make a “very difficult but necessary decision” to put its Murrayton House based on the market. It has been the sanctuary’s home for the last 60 years.

It is seeking a buyer “who shares our vision, someone who understands the importance of our work and is willing to collaborate with us on a long-term solution that allows Wild Futures to continue”.

In a statement the charity said: “This is a vital step towards safeguarding our charity’s future and to give us time to protect what matters most - the monkeys in our care, our mission, and the values we stand for.

“We have carefully and thoroughly explored and exhausted all other options, with responsibility to the animals in our care and the mission of our charity at the forefront of all our decisions.

“We know this news may be upsetting, and it is a very serious and worrying time for us all. It is a necessary step that gives us the best possible chance to secure the long-term future of Wild Futures and the monkeys we care for.”

It added that it hopes the “right opportunity will come, one that allows us to either stay in our current home or move with the dignity and support we need to create a new one”.

In April the charity announced that financial challenges had meant it would have to close its doors to the public for a year. It said that is “cannot afford” to remain open to the public and the decision was made to focus on protecting the monkeys in its care.

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