Dancing Monkeys Gallery
These incredible long tailed macaques were recently rescued from a dreadful life in the Indonesian entertainment industry. Please see the gallery below for some images of these monkeys before and after they were rescued.
Monkey Freedom Project Hub
Welcome to the Monkey Freedom Project!
Keep an eye on this hub for all the latest news on Jono, Meli, Unyil and the 28 other rescued monkeys as they progress on their journey back to the wild. Thank you for making this incredible project possible.
Status: Socialisation
The monkeys are currently in the socialisation stage of their recovery journey. Make sure to check this page for regular updates on their progress.
Meet the monkeys
Behind every rescue is a story of survival, resilience, and hope. Meet the incredible monkeys you’re helping heal and see how your support is giving them a second chance at life.
More information:
Meet Unyil – 1 of 31 rescued dancing monkeys
Our incredible supporters helped rescue Unyil, 1 of 31 monkeys saved from the abusive dancing monkey trade in Indonesia. Watch the short video about Unyil's rescue.
Rescued long-tailed macaques are learning to be wild again
Before their rescue, the 31 macaques in the Monkey Freedom Project were stripped of natural behaviours. Now they have to learn how to be themselves again.
What’s on the menu? Feeding and nutrition at the sanctuary
At the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) sanctuary, food is so much more than fuel - it’s medicine, enrichment, and a key part of helping each rescued monkey rediscover what it means to live wild and free.
Healing from the Inside Out: The Medical Journey of a Rescued Monkey
When 31 ex-dancing monkeys arrived at the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) sanctuary, they brought more than just physical wounds — they carried hidden scars of fear, pain, and trauma.
What quarantine really means for rescued monkeys
Before they swing through trees or bond with their new troop, every rescued monkey in the Monkey Freedom Project begins their new life in a very special place: quarantine.
Dancing monkeys rescued from Indonesia's last training centre
Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN), with support from World Animal Protection, has saved a troupe of 31 macaque monkeys from Indonesia’s last remaining ‘monkey dance training village’.
A lifetime of suffering has come to an end for young Unyil
Unyil was made to be a "dancing monkey," and trained from just 10 months old to perform unnatural tasks for entertainment.
Jono's journey
Life for Indonesia’s dancing monkeys, including Jono, was one long cycle of misery and cruelty.