Primarily Primates, Inc. (PPI) is a not-for-profit animal sanctuary in Bexar County, Texas, providing permanent, lifetime care and housing for rescued animals, mostly primates.
The 300+ animals living at PPI in permanent residence have been saved from biomedical research, the pet trade, and/or the entertainment industry. Now, animal residents including chimpanzees, lemurs, small primates, kinkajous, birds, and farmed animals enjoy the peace true sanctuary brings. PPI was founded in 1978, making it the first primate sanctuary in North America and the first to rescue chimpanzees requiring lifetime care following medical research.
PPI cares for each animal individually and holistically, focusing on both physical and psychological health. As a true sanctuary, PPI is not open to the general public and does not breed, sell, trade, or use animals commercially. A community of supporters and collaborators keeps PPI energized and maintained.
PPI is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and is committed to compassionate and appropriate zoological care. These animals get to live the rest of their lives with dignity, experience proper social environments, and make choices about how they want to spend their days.
Mark your calendars for Oct. 7, 2025—it’s Giving Day for Apes, an annual global day of giving to support Primarily Primates and other wildlife sanctuaries protecting apes around the world. Giving Day for Apes is also about you—and the life-changing impact you have on apes in need. Every gift fuels hope: helping sanctuaries rescue, heal […]
Care staff at Primarily Primates recently made a shocking yet heartwarming discovery. Chimpanzees Norma and Selena, who were rescued by the sanctuary in 2019, along with Mighty Fine, from Wildlife Waystation after it closed for financial reasons, are the daughters of Shu Shu, who arrived at PPI in 1996. The revelation was made after a […]
It’s World Chimpanzee Day and we have a lot to celebrate! Did you know that Friends of Animals, the international animal advocacy organization that manages Primarily Primates, also sponsors the most unique chimpanzee sanctuary in the world. In a November 2008 landmark agreement with Janis Carter and the Gambian government, Friends of Animals agreed to help […]
A baby spider monkey found running loose through a San Antonio, Texas neighborhood has been rescued by Primarily Primates. Rest assured he will receive proper, lifelong care, along with our more than 300 residents, including nine other spider monkeys. You can donate towards his care at https://primarilyprimates.org/. PPI received a call from City of San Antonio […]
