PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - A Plettenberg Bay-based animal sanctuary is trying to secure the future of its animals through a crowd-funding campaign which aims to see that the land these animals currently occupy "belongs to them". 

The aim is to secure their future, as future shareholders could decide to sell the land, leaving the animals with nowhere to go.

"The crisis in tourism caused by the current pandemic has opened our eyes to the possibility that future generations of shareholders might not have the same passion for the animals that we do," said Monkeyland founder and chief executive Tony Blignaut. 

Monkeyland operates on land belonging to a proprietary limited company, but the welfare of its animals remains the responsibility of the South African Animal Sanctuaries Alliance (SAASA), a PBO and non-profit organisation.

Thinking about the future: The South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance has launched a campaign to secure the future of its animals. Photo: Ewald Stander

The owners of the farm in the Crags that hosts the sanctuary have agreed to sell the land to SAASA, and SAASA in turn has set up its "Buy a square metre of land for primates" campaign so that members of the public can help fund the purchase by donating as little as a single square metre to the cause - at a cost of R90 per square metre.

"With a total of 216 000 square metres available, the campaign will raise more than the required amount, and the balance will go into an emergency fund to protect the animals' food bill until such time as tourism returns to normal."

Donations are tax deductible and SAASA plans to sweeten the deal by offering anyone who pays for fifty square metres or more a free safari after the sale has been concluded. 

For more information, click here or contact Lara on lara@monkeyland.co.za or 082 979 5683.

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