Simon and Peggy Templer
Encyclopedia
The late Simon and Peggy Templer were a British
couple who lived in Spain
, where they dedicated their lives in rescuing mistreated chimpanzee
s used by photographers on beach resorts. The country had become a focus of the trade in chimpanzees for the tourist industry, and these apes would be severely abused. Simon and his wife Peggy took it in their role of persuading the Spanish authorities (Guardia Civil) to confiscate the chimps and provide them a more safe environment.
. Their life long ambition of rescuing chimps started in 1978 when there was a plight of baby chimps being smuggled into Spain from Africa to be sold on the market, then purchased by photographers who used them as props for the tourist industry on the beaches. The apes would be physically and mentally abused- being given drugs to keep them calm, beaten to remain sedate, poor diet intake, have their teeth knocked out to prevent them biting and would be killed after becoming uncontrollable. The Templers started their mission of trying to put an end to this trade and mistreatment of chimpanzees by recruiting assistance from the Spanish Authorities, the Guardia Civil Council, to confiscate the beach chimps and allow Simon and Peggy to build a small half-way house in which to house them. The Templers battled to save every single beach chimp and given them a home at their half-way house. Although their rescue missions were good, there was a dilemma. Their small half-way house could not accommodate all the chimpanzees, and therefore a bigger solution was needed.
approached the Templers and discussed on how he could possibly help. Cronin had an ambition of building a rescue centre for primates and their ideas matched. Simon and Peggy needed to find a much bigger accommodation for their beloved chimps and Jim promised to build a sanctuary in Dorset, England
to rehome the chimpanzees. By 1987, Jim Cronin set up Monkey World
and was able rehome the Templer's chimpanzees and given them all a permanent, safe home at Monkey World. To this day all the chimpanzees at Monkey World who were rescued from Spanish beach photographers were save by the Templers in the mid 1980s.
, Spain
. The centre was set up to provide a sanctuary for abused beach chimpanzees used by photographers on beach resorts. MONA has provided a home to confiscated beach chimps as well as providing a home to a few barbary macaques at the centre today.
, Kenya
. Peggy Templer died a couple of years later. This extraordinery couple have made a real difference in the lives of many chimpanzees rescued from Spanish beaches and their legacy continues in the form of the two chimpanzee rescue centres they helped to form.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
couple who lived in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, where they dedicated their lives in rescuing mistreated chimpanzee
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
s used by photographers on beach resorts. The country had become a focus of the trade in chimpanzees for the tourist industry, and these apes would be severely abused. Simon and his wife Peggy took it in their role of persuading the Spanish authorities (Guardia Civil) to confiscate the chimps and provide them a more safe environment.
Rescuing Chimpanzees
Simon and Peggy had moved to Spain from their natal country, BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Their life long ambition of rescuing chimps started in 1978 when there was a plight of baby chimps being smuggled into Spain from Africa to be sold on the market, then purchased by photographers who used them as props for the tourist industry on the beaches. The apes would be physically and mentally abused- being given drugs to keep them calm, beaten to remain sedate, poor diet intake, have their teeth knocked out to prevent them biting and would be killed after becoming uncontrollable. The Templers started their mission of trying to put an end to this trade and mistreatment of chimpanzees by recruiting assistance from the Spanish Authorities, the Guardia Civil Council, to confiscate the beach chimps and allow Simon and Peggy to build a small half-way house in which to house them. The Templers battled to save every single beach chimp and given them a home at their half-way house. Although their rescue missions were good, there was a dilemma. Their small half-way house could not accommodate all the chimpanzees, and therefore a bigger solution was needed.
Monkey World
In 1986, a man called Jim CroninJim Cronin
James "Jim" Michael Cronin MBE was the founder in 1987 of Monkey World in Dorset, England, a sanctuary for abused and neglected primates...
approached the Templers and discussed on how he could possibly help. Cronin had an ambition of building a rescue centre for primates and their ideas matched. Simon and Peggy needed to find a much bigger accommodation for their beloved chimps and Jim promised to build a sanctuary in Dorset, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to rehome the chimpanzees. By 1987, Jim Cronin set up Monkey World
Monkey World
Monkey World is a ape and monkey sanctuary and rescue centre near Wool, Dorset, England...
and was able rehome the Templer's chimpanzees and given them all a permanent, safe home at Monkey World. To this day all the chimpanzees at Monkey World who were rescued from Spanish beach photographers were save by the Templers in the mid 1980s.
MONA Chimpanzee Sanctuary
The MONA Chimpanzee Sanctuary was founded by Simon and Peggy Templer within southern BarcelonaBarcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The centre was set up to provide a sanctuary for abused beach chimpanzees used by photographers on beach resorts. MONA has provided a home to confiscated beach chimps as well as providing a home to a few barbary macaques at the centre today.
Passing Away
Simon Templer died in March 1997 while on holiday in NairobiNairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. Peggy Templer died a couple of years later. This extraordinery couple have made a real difference in the lives of many chimpanzees rescued from Spanish beaches and their legacy continues in the form of the two chimpanzee rescue centres they helped to form.