Monkeys going to heaven without increased funding

THE Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (Spanish: Partido Animalista Contra el Maltrato Animal; PACMA) have complained that a chronic lack of funding at the Rainfer Primate Recovery Centre in the Community of Madrid is leaving the resident animals “close to death.”

The centre aims to rescue and rehabilitate mistreated primates from the black market, circuses, and the television and film industries, plus ex-pets that have been abandoned.

There are currently 135 inmates at the centre, with 25 species represented, including monkeys, chimpanzees, and an orangutan by the name of Boris (no relation, as far as we know).

These animals can never be reintroduced to their natural environment, and must now see out their days at the mountain facility, which relies on government funding, donations and volunteers to stay open.

The founding family have apparently invested their life savings in the project, and PACMA are now up in arms since the centre receives only €20,000 per year from a government which collects around €1 million per year in fines relating to animal cruelty, and that handed over €1 million to Madrid’s Bullfighting Centre in 2015.

The animal rights party insists that Rainfer needs “at least” €12,000 per month, with an extra €4,000 during winter.

While the centre does accept donations, PACMA are convinced that the national administration can do more, although they may find that the issue must wait until after the upcoming general election.