Fire destroys primate shelter at Oklahoma sanctuary, displacing monkeys
By Patrick Talbot
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NEWCASTLE, Oklahoma (KOCO) — A heater sparked a fire at the Oklahoma Primate Sanctuary in Newcastle last week, though all animals and staff escaped unharmed.
The fire broke out Friday morning inside the macaque house, which housed five rhesus macaques. Staff quickly moved eight monkeys in total to safety, including those displaced by the fire.
“This is their safe space. This is their home,” Carly Gruntmeir, the sanctuary manager, said. “At 6:45 a.m., it was 74 degrees in there. At 6:55 a.m., 10 minutes later when staff arrived, this house was on fire.”
The Oklahoma Primate Sanctuary provides a permanent home for primates, including pets surrendered or confiscated from owners and those retired from medical research.
“We take in pets, so guys who are either confiscated or surrendered from pet owners, as well as retired-from-medical-research primates,” Gruntmeir said.
The indoor houses offer protection from extreme temperatures and a comforting retreat for the animals.
Staff are now working to restore the animals’ sense of security while addressing fire prevention measures.
“The monkeys are stressed and we’re stressed trying to figure out how to prevent them from experiencing this again,” said April Terrell, the sanctuary’s project coordinator.
Replacing the lost macaque house is estimated to cost $35,000.
“We are a nonprofit, so we run completely off of just the kindness and donations of people who support us,” Gruntmeir said.
The sanctuary staff said they are relieved that no animals or employees were injured and are focused on rebuilding to provide the primates with a safe and familiar space.
Those interested in donating to the Oklahoma Primate Sanctuary can do so here.
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