Happy #GivingTuesday: Save a monkey sanctuary!

Vv Magazine’s Vicki Hogarth shares with us a cause very close to her heart, Story Book Farm Sanctuary’s #DarwinsDream Indiegogo campaign, for #GivingTuesday. Have your tissues at ready, animal lovers…

If you’re looking to be inspired on #GivingTuesday, a global day for giving back, look no further than Toronto resident Charmaine Quinn. As a volunteer at Story Book Farm Sanctuary, Quinn helps give happy and healthy living environments to rescue monkeys who’ve come to the sanctuary after living in homes as exotic pets or as test subjects in laboratories. Since they can’t return to the wild, a place like Story Book Farm Sanctuary — the only primate sanctuary in Canada — is necessary, and deserves our attention and support. Unfortunately, animals are still treated as “property” under Canadian law and, because of this, there’s still a surprisingly large number of exotic animals that end up in people’s homes as pets where they are often mistreated or given up when they get too big to be cared for. Until the laws change, we need a place like Story Book Farms Sanctuary and people like Quinn who will see to it that primates have a safe place to live when they’re no longer wanted by pet owners and laboratories.

Darwin, aka the IKEA Monkey, is perhaps the most well-known resident of Story Book Farm, but the sanctuary’s in-house monkey artist, Pockets Warhol, is also famous in his own right in the art world. Quinn noticed a resemblance between Pockets and pop artist Andy Warhol when the capuchin arrived at the sanctuary at age 18 after his owner in BC could no longer care for him. Because of his curious nature and energetic character, Quinn introduced Pockets to paint as part of his rehabilitation. The result was unique abstract expressionist paintings, which soon gained the attention of fans and galleries around the world. Pockets has since had art exhibits in Italy, Finland, and right here in Toronto, and his paintings have raised over $40,000 for Story Book Farm. Pockets might be the artist, but it’s Quinn who saw the opportunity to give him a voice for the sanctuary, and for all rescue monkeys who deserve a happy life once they’ve been abandoned, given up, or saved from an unsafe or abusive environment.

Right now, the sanctuary needs to move to a new location, and so there’s no better time to invest in a Pockets Warhol painting or print to help the world-famous monkey artist fundraise for a new home for his primate friends. The sanctuary’s Indiegogo campaign, entitled #DarwinsDream, aims to raise money to move to a new location and features many ways you can help donate — one of which is by purchasing a Pockets Warhol #DarwinsDream print.

As part of #GivingTuesday, we spoke to Pockets Warhol’s muse, the ever-inspiring Charmaine Quinn, about her life as a primate volunteer, working with Pockets Warhol, #DarwinsDream, and the need for a new sanctuary.

You work with a lot of animals, but a lot of people know you as a muse to Pockets Warhol, the 8th most successful animal artist in the world. What first piqued your interest in monkeys and what has your journey as a volunteer and animal rights crusader been like over the years?
About eight years ago, a zookeeper friend from the Toronto Zoo introduced me to the director of the primate sanctuary. I had developed an interest in primates through volunteering at the zoo, as well as a program which allowed me to be involved with the husbandry of zoo animals. During my time at the zoo, I became more passionate about helping primates and bringing awareness about their precarious future. I joined the Borneo Orangutan Society in Canada, which gave me the incentive to start volunteering yearly in Borneo with orphaned and displaced orangutans in their forest school system and have been a part of this amazing work for the past eight years.

How did you begin working with Pockets Warhol specifically and how did you start developing his talent as an artist?
My connection with Pockets began four years ago when he arrived at the sanctuary from a private home. Because of his curious nature, I thought he would be interested in painting as a form of enrichment. While working with Pockets, I saw an uncanny resemblance between him and the pop artist Andy Warhol, and he started to be affectionately known as Pockets Warhol. He uses his hands, feet, and tail to paint, thereby creating unique abstract art, which resulted in showings in Toronto and a couple of museums abroad. Pockets is the eighth biggest animal fundraiser in the world and one special painting was presented to Dr. Jane Goodall.

You’re the Art Director of Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary. Most people are surprised to learn there’s a monkey sanctuary so close to Toronto, and that there’s a real need for one in Canada (especially due to the underground animal trade). Can you tell us a bit about the sanctuary, why it’s so necessary, and how other people can help?
Unfortunately, the desire for exotic animals is on the rise in Ontario and Canada, and Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary has been taking in a variety of unwanted or neglected primates for over 15 years. Primates are unpredictable and wild by nature, which makes them difficult to keep as pets and, once this becomes a reality, many are often euthanized or discarded by their owners. These primates need long-term care, and we rely on public funding so that we can hopefully accommodate the influx of some of these primates from this cruel trade. I think education, awareness, volunteering, and fundraising are some of the excellent ways to get others involved with helping the future of these primates.

You are the Canadian Orangutan Ambassador. What does that position entail and how did you receive such an honour?
Because of my long-term involvement with the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Borneo, the Orangutan Appeal UK charity, which is also based at the center in Borneo, gave me this honour of helping spread awareness of the critically-endangered orangutan through many avenues in Canada. I am also able to use this platform through my work as a docent at the Toronto Zoo during orangutan awareness events.

What are some of the biggest animals rights issues, in your opinion, right now that everyone needs to pay more attention to — and what can people do to help?
The animal rights issue is a deep concern for me as I see a lack of education, conservation, and awareness on a global level regarding the future role of many animals. The continued destruction of the environment is alarming, as well as the tragic poaching and trade of wild animals, which is rampant. Many of these animals are at risk of extinction within the next 10 years as their numbers are plummeting. I have been fortunate enough to be a part of Dr. Jane Goodall’s team during her last few lectures in Toronto, and her vision to inspire youth and communities by the Roots and Shoots program is truly brilliant. My hope would be for others to get involved in ways that create a positive future for these animals and their long-term survival.

You’re volunteering in Belize this winter. What will that journey be like for you and what will you be doing there?
During my time in Belize, I will be working at the Wildtracks Primate Rehabilitation Center, specifically with spider and howler monkeys, as well as the Manatee Rescue Center. Their primate programme helps to rehabilitate and release injured, confiscated, or surrendered monkeys. Primate rehabilitation can be very labour-intensive due to the long-term care given to these infants who have lost their mothers, and it can be a long and difficult journey for many of them. The Manatee Rescue helps to care for orphaned manatees.

In your time as a volunteer, you’ve played a huge role in getting many animals out of abusive circumstances. What you do is heroic, but it must definitely take its toll on you emotionally. What keeps you hopeful despite witnessing so much pain and suffering?
My time volunteering with these animals has at times been overwhelmingly sad but, at the same time, has brought me intense happiness. It has been emotionally draining, especially in Borneo as I see many orangutans that are orphaned, distressed, or injured arriving from palm oil plantations as a result of deforestation. Rehabilitation is a complicated process and, due to their susceptibility to many diseases, the mortality rate is quite high. I had to realize that my love for these primates has to outweigh the sorrow I feel with each loss, and this helps me push forward.

Who are some of your personal heroes and why?
There are so many wonderful people that I have been fortunate enough to be involved with and look up to, but I would have to say that Dr. Jane Goodall would be the one person who I admire the most because she has had the ability to affect change internationally and giving the youth much needed hope for the future of the planet. I also admire my good friend Prof. Anne Russon, who works tirelessly in Indonesia to protect orangutan habitat. I also admire Dr. Shirley McGreal, founder of International Primate Protection League, and her ongoing battle to protect primates on a global level.

What are some of the most important life lessons you’ve learned from animals over the years?
Having an animal’s unconditional love and trust has been most important for me. They live in a completely different realm, one which I can relate to, and am thankful every day to be a part of their incredible world.

What are your last words of advice to animal lovers who want to make the world a better place for all of our mammal friends? What are some easy ways to help?
Try to protect and preserve the environment, which will protect and benefit many species or volunteer at sanctuaries or animal shelters, as there are many unwanted animals looking for a chance to have a happy life. And please support #DarwinsDream Indiegogo campaign – for Pockets, Darwin, and all the primates at Story Book Farm Sanctuary.

Will you be participating in #DarwinsDream Indiegogo campaing for #GivingTuesday? Let Vv Magazine know your thoughts on “Happy #GivingTuesday: Charmaine Quinn + Pockets Warhol” in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.