The Israeli Primate Sanctuary Foundation (IPSF) is a registered non-profit organization that was founded in 1996 with the purpose of saving and rehabilitating monkeys in need. Home to nearly 1,700 primates of 20 different species including macaques, baboon, marmoset, capuchin, lemur and more, the IPSF is a refuge for primates rescued/retired from biomedical research laboratories and those seized f
rom the exotic pet trade here in Israel. The IPSF is the only organization in Israel dealing with rehabilitation of primates. Its 27-year history of absorbing, rehabilitating and re-assimilating primates from a wide variety of backgrounds makes it one of the most experienced sanctuaries of its kind in the world. The IPSF has been providing rescued primates with psychological rehabilitation through an enriched environment, social housing, physical rehabilitation, corrected nutrition, and excellent veterinary care. IPSF specifically focuses on helping monkeys regain their social skills so that they may rejoin monkeys of the same species. Living in social groups is essential to the well-being of every primate. Once in the care of IPSF, primates are either given permanent sanctuary or IPSF seeks out permanent placement for their groups in partnering parks, sanctuaries or re-introduction programs. IPSF does not purchase, sell, or trade primates. The IPSF also has a leading role in Israel in generating standards and laws regarding primate welfare. It has implemented and carried out birth control projects in all petting zoos in Israel which house primates and has successfully worked to drastically reduce the illegal trade of primates in Israel. In 2014, the IPSF accepted a request from the Ministry of the Environment and the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority to absorb monkeys from the recently closed BFC macaque breeding farm. This facility, the Mazor Farm (BFC), was in the business of breeding long-tailed macaques for research experiments. The IPSF has already received more than six hundred monkeys from this facility, more than tripling the Sanctuary's population, and hundreds more a due to come.
