A Mississippi monkey sanctuary helps veterans with PTSD find peace
Share this @internewscast.com

PERKINSTON, Miss. (AP) — In the company of a lively spider monkey named Louie, an Army veteran who has battled with post-traumatic stress disorder for years finds comfort and tranquility.

“Being out here has brought a lot of faith back to me,” said John Richard. “There’s no feeling like it.”

The connection was formed last fall when Richard assisted a pair of married veterans in establishing the Gulf Coast Primate Sanctuary. He offered his skills to construct the enclosure now housing Louie in the rural southeast of Mississippi.

During a recent interaction, Louie swiftly climbed onto Richard, clinging to him with his arms and tail as if offering a hug. In response, Richard gently placed his hand on the monkey’s back, speaking softly until Louie unwound himself and moved away.

“He makes these little noises in my ear, almost as if he’s telling me, ‘I love you,’” Richard shared. “It’s like he knows I mean no harm and trusts me.”

Richard said his connection with Louie helped more than any other PTSD treatment he received since being diagnosed more than 20 years ago.

This story resonates with April Stewart, the sanctuary’s creator and an Air Force veteran who says her PTSD stemmed from military sexual trauma.

“It was destroying my life. It was like a cancer,” she said. “It was a trauma that was never properly healed.”

Stewart has always found solace in animals. While creating a healing space for veterans with PTSD wasn’t her initial plan, the sanctuary has naturally evolved into such a refuge for some of its volunteers.

“By helping the primates learning to trust, we’re also reteaching ourselves how to trust, and we’re giving ourselves grace with people,” she said.

Her 15-acre property, nestled amid woods and farmland, is filled with rescue dogs, two rather noisy geese and a black cat. It’s also now home to three spider monkeys, two squirrel monkeys and two kinkajous, a tropical mammal that is closely related to raccoons.

The sanctuary in the town of Perkinston, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) due north of the Gulf coast, includes three large enclosures for the different species. Each has a smaller, air-conditioned area and a large fenced-in outdoor zone, where the primates swing from platforms and lounge in the sun. Checking on the animals — changing their blankets, bringing food and water — is one of the first and last things Stewart does each day.

However, she can’t do it alone. She relies on a group of volunteers for help, including several other veterans, and hopes to open the sanctuary to the public next summer for guided educational tours.

Stewart and her husband, also a veteran, decided to open the sanctuary in October after first rescuing and rehoming monkeys. With the help of two exotic-animal veterinarians, they formed a foundation that governs the sanctuary — which she said is the only primate sanctuary in Mississippi licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — and ensures the animals will be cared for even when the Stewarts are no longer able to run it themselves.

All the animals were once somebody’s pet, but their owners eventually couldn’t take care of them. Stewart stressed that primates do not make good or easy pets. They need lots of space and socialization, which is often difficult for families to provide.

The sanctuary’s goal is to provide as natural a habitat as possible for the animals, Stewart said, and bring them together with their own species.

“This is their family,” she said.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Convicted felon federally charged after threatening Atlanta airport while armed with AR-15 rifle

Armed Felon Faces Federal Charges After Threatening Atlanta Airport with AR-15: A Chilling Security Breach

A Georgia resident is facing federal charges after allegedly threatening to “shoot…
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson discuses budget plan, lawsuit against President Donald Trump

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Outlines Budget Strategy and Addresses Lawsuit Against Former President Donald Trump

CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Brandon Johnson has introduced a $16.6 billion budget…
'Golden Bachelor' exclusive clip: Can Cindy get the answers she needs to move forward with Mel?

Exclusive Clip from ‘Golden Bachelor’: Will Cindy Find the Clarity She Needs to Progress with Mel?

This week on “The Golden Bachelor,” the excitement heightens as Mel embarks…
Protests erupt as ICE agents raid NYC Chinatown street vendors allegedly selling counterfeit goods

ICE Agents Conduct Raids on NYC Chinatown Vendors Amid Counterfeit Goods Allegations, Sparking Protests

In a dramatic turn of events on Friday, a federal operation in…
Alleged drunken driver blames fashion fail for crash that killed man on first date: report

Driver Accused of Fatal Crash Claims Wardrobe Malfunction Led to Tragedy on First Date

A tragic incident in Texas has taken an unusual turn as a…
Fernandina Beach rejects ban on downtown paid parking

Fernandina Beach Decides Against Prohibiting Paid Parking Downtown

As discussions continue around the paid parking plan, the commissioners have decided…
Trump hosts Senate Republicans at renovated White House as the shutdown drags into fourth week

Trump Welcomes Senate Republicans to Newly Renovated White House Amidst Ongoing Government Shutdown

Preschool programs across the country are urgently seeking federal funding, while the…
Pardoned Capitol rioter charged with threatening to kill Hakeem Jeffries

From Pardon to Peril: Capitol Rioter Now Accused of Threatening Hakeem Jeffries

Ahead of a planned speech by Congressman Hakeem Jeffries in New York…
One of the world's rarest whales that makes the Atlantic its home grows in population

Atlantic’s Rare Right Whale Population Sees Promising Growth: A Conservation Success

PORTLAND, Maine — In an optimistic turn for marine conservation, one of…
At Least 135 Mutilated Palestinian Bodies Traced to Israeli Prison Accused of Torture

135 Palestinian Bodies Found: Investigation Launched into Alleged Israeli Prison Abuses

In a disturbing development, Gaza health authorities report that 135 bodies of…
FWC investigating after finding crocodile with spear in the back of its head

Florida Wildlife Commission Probes Disturbing Crocodile Spearing Incident in State’s Waters

Efforts by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers and experts…
Fraternity suspended after possible hazing leaves university student in critical condition: report

University Fraternity Faces Suspension Amid Alleged Hazing Incident: Student Critically Injured

A fraternity in New Jersey is facing suspension due to potential hazing…