#primates – Anitha Rao-Robinson

Episode 136:Kindness Is Helping Primates Together—How a group of sanctuaries work together to help primates.

Published on October 1, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Amanda (Andy) Gray joins Anitha to talk about NAPSA (North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance) an incredible organization dedicated to uniting the primate sanctuary community.

Of course, Andy and Anitha talk about the wonderful work NAPSA sanctuaries are doing to provide enrichment and professional lifetime care to primates. But they also talk about the reasons primates, who are not native to North America, end up in sanctuaries in this part of the world. From bio-medical research to entertainment to the exotic pet trade, all of these industries use and cause primates immense harm and suffering.

Fortunately, sanctuaries such as those who are part of NAPSA work tirelessly to end the exploitation of primates.

A compelling conversation about caring for our closest relatives and how we can all advocate on their behalf.

To learn more about NAPSA, their member sanctuaries and how you can support their work, check out the following links:

NAPSA’s website

NAPSA on Facebook

NAPSA on Instagram

As a thank you to Andy for sharing her story, Anitha donated to GIVING DAY FOR APES. In its 12th year, Giving Day for Apes is a worldwide event bringing together thousands of donors to rescue and protect apes across Africa, Asia, and North America. The live event takes place on Tuesday, October 7th, but you don’t have to wait – Early Giving is open now!

To learn more about GIVING DAY FOR APES, click here:

Giving Day For Apes

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 133: Kindness Is Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary—A place where primates heal & recover from trauma.

Published on September 10, 2025September 10, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Rachelle Hansen joins Anitha to talk about Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary, located in Ontario, Canada. Rachelle shares stories of the residents who currently live and have lived at the sanctuary. She talks about the friendships they have made, things they enjoy doing and how the folks at the sanctuary do their best to make the lives of the residents as happy and comfortable as possible, given they can never be returned to their natural homes in the wild.

Of course, Rachelle talks about Pockets Warhol, the famous white-capped capuchin monkey who loves to paint. His art work is highly sought after.

Rachelle also talks about the residents’ lives before coming to the sanctuary—many were victims of the pet trade, bio-medical experiments and zoos.

During their conversation, Rachelle shares the horrific plight of more than 6,000 endangered Cambodian macaques arriving in Canada for the past 19 months to be used in laboratory testing. These wild-caught primates, typically between one and two years of age, are illegally trafficked from Cambodia to Montreal, Canada in tiny crates, often without food or water. If they survive the trip, they then endure immense pain, suffering and terror as they are subjected to experiments, even though it is well documented that these drug experiments consistently fail to improve human health. This is such a tragedy, BUT there is something everyone can do to help. Rachelle, shared the following link, where folks can sign a petition and email the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Julie Dabrusin to urge her to stop the importation of long-tailed macaques into Canada.

Horrible things are happening in the world, but here is one instance where you can help. Please click on the link and sign the petition.

Help Cambodian Macaques

To learn more about Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary and to book a visit, check out their website and Instagram account.

Story Book Farm Website

Story Book Farm Instagram

As a thank you to Rachelle for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Located in Sierra Leone, Tacugama is dedicated to enforcing wildlife laws, and rescuing and rehabilitating critically endangered orphaned Western chimpanzees. To learn more about Tacugama, check out their website. You can also listen to episode 55 of the Kindness Is Everything podcast, where Dr. Izzy Hirji, a veterinarian, talks about volunteering with both Tacugama and Story Book Farm.

Tacugama Website

Episode 55: Kindness Is Dr. Izzy Goes Wild

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 120: Kindness Is Being Friends Of Bonobos

Published on June 4, 2025June 17, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Anitha fell in love with bonobos when she first learned about these magnificent apes many years ago, and she is absolutely thrilled to have Ariel Rogers, the executive director of Friends Of Bonobos as a guest to talk about all things bonobos.

Ariel talks about the incredible characteristics of bonobos, the reasons they are critically endangered and the remarkable work being done to save them.

One of the many special facts Ariel shares about bonobos is that they are the only animal who can’t survive without love and affection. All the other apes, including humans can survive without being hugged and loved, but not bonobos—they will die. That’s why it’s so important to have Lola Ya Bonobo, the only sanctuary for orphaned bonobos, where human surrogate moms dedicate years to caring for and loving these babies.

A heartwarming conversation about the adorable bonobo.

To learn more about bonobos and the wonderful work being done by Friends of Bonobos, check out these links:

Friends of Bonobos on YouTube

Friends of Bonobos— Website

Lola Ya Bonobo – Instagram

Lola Ya Bonobo—Facebook

Lola Ya Bonobo tour on YouTube

As a thank you to Ariel for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Friends of Bonobos.

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 47: Kindness Is Healing Animals Big & Small

Published on September 12, 2022 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Dr. Vivek Basu fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian— and what an incredible veterinarian he has become. Vivek donates a lot of his time and skills to help animals of all sizes, near and far.

In addition to talking about what it’s like to treat many different animals—dogs, cats, racehorses, rescued primates and wildlife, we also explore difficult subjects like trophy hunting and the difference between zoos and sanctuaries.

As a thank you for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary, one of the sanctuaries where Vivek donates his veterinary skills. This sanctuary provides healing and recovery from trauma for primates who have been rescued from laboratories, roadside zoos and other terrible circumstances.