About
Founded in 1978
Primarily Primates 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’s devoted staff supports all dimensions of animal life from diet to medical care to social-behavior management. Staff perform daily animal assessments, including behavior & physical checkups, for illness prevention and social-behavior management.
PPI has an innovative enrichment program to promote natural wild behaviors and mental stimulation. To ensure each day is unique, staff provides daily food enrichment treats using a variety of ingredients and enrichment methods that allow the animals to resourcefully seek food as they would in nature. Additionally, sensory enrichment activities like burning incense, playing music and painting are also offered to stimulate animal residents and prevent boredom.
PPI relies on the generosity of our animal-loving supporters.
Service Accomplishments 2023
The staff and volunteers of Primarily Primates, Inc. celebrated several accomplishments in 2023. In addition to providing holistic, lifelong care to over 300 primates, birds, and other mammals, PPI rescued 14 animals in need of a better future.
Several new arrivals to PPI previously lived in zoos or other sanctuaries. After the Dr. Juan A. Rivero zoo in Puerto Rico was shuttered following damage from hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, U.S. Fish and Wildlife stepped in to rescue the remaining animals in 2023, placing 3 patas monkeys and 2 vervets in our care. In Florida, a small family-run sanctuary closed its doors, and PPI came to the rescue of 5 spider monkeys in desperate need of a new home. And when a young female rhesus macaque named Jean was rejected by her mother after being rescued from a roadside zoo, PPI was determined to provide her with the specialized care she would need for her entire 30- or 40-year lifespan.
Primarily Primates, Inc. was also called upon to care for animals foolishly purchased as pets and surrendered by their owners. Kobe and Kiara, marmosets, came to PPI after their owner came to the realization that no primates should be pets. Jethro, a young male kinkajou, was escorted to PPI by Bexar County Animal Control officers after being abandoned by an unknown and irresponsible pet owner.
Primarily Primates, Inc. remains committed to providing the best possible life for animals neglected, abused and abandoned by the pet trade, entertainment, and by research laboratories. We are proud to have the support of all our donors and followers as we continue this important, lifesaving work.
Primarily Primates
26099 Dull Knife Trail.
San Antonio, Texas 78255
Tel:(830)-755-4616
Fax:(830)755-4618
Contact Us
Tax ID# 74-2164756
Executive Staff:
Krystal Mathis– Executive Director
Board of Trustees and Officers:
Priscilla Feral – President & Chair
Robert Orabona – Secretary & Treasurer
Sally Malanga – Trustee
Barbara Sitomer – Trustee
Raymond Vagell – Trustee
Terrin Fuhrmann – Trustee
Tanya Suttles – Trustee
Tiffany Bulen – Trustee
Mission: Primarily Primates provides lifetime care and housing for native and non-native homeless, abused and abandoned animals, mostly primates, saving them from death or continued exploitation. We are not open to the general public and do not breed, sell, trade or use animals commercially.
Financial Information:
Federal Identification # (EIN) 74-2164756