In the next hamlet along from Abercraf, a former hill farm has become a refuge for around 200 rescued animals — chimpanzees, baboons, spider monkeys, capuchins and macaques, alongside wolfdogs, meerkats and farm animals living out a quieter retirement.
It’s a rescue sanctuary rather than a zoo, and proudly so: founded by Graham and Jan Garen in 1998, it takes animals from laboratories, circuses, the pet trade and closed zoos — nothing is bred, nothing is taken from the wild, and no animal is ever passed on. When Penscynor Wildlife Park closed, seven chimpanzees that faced being put down came here instead.
Expect a heartfelt, working-farm atmosphere rather than polished zoo presentation — that’s rather the point. Every admission goes straight to feeding the residents; the sanctuary receives no government funding at all.
Worth knowing
- Home to around 200 rescued animals, from chimpanzees and baboons to meerkats and highland cattle.
- Bili the chimpanzee was rescued in 2011 after some 30 years in a Bulgarian circus.
- Runs entirely on admissions and donations — no public funding.
- Open every day of the year except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.