The Monkey Bus has been our faithful partner since the start, but forest conditions can be harsh on even the toughest of vehicles. One of our major costs is fuel for the Monkey Bus, which averages at about €200 per week in our busiest periods.
Our first Monkey Bus was born in 1997. It was a Land Rover Defender (long wheel base). The BMAC team bought it in 2009 with a donation from the Mohamed bin Zayed Endangered Species Fund. During its time with us, it was customised and painted, repaired many times, and helped us in many situations!
Monkey Bus mark II
When our first Monkey Bus reached the end of its life in 2017, we were very worried that we would be unable to afford to replace her for a very long time. We are incredibly grateful to our private donors as well as our EAZA zoo donors, for responding so quickly to our call for help, and for their hard work and generosity. Big shouts out to GaiaZoo Foundation. Zoo Vienna, La Vallee des Singes/Conservatoire pour le Protection des Primate; Association Francaises des Parcs Zoologiques; Folly Farm; Zoo Ouwehands and Zoo Helsinki, and thank you to everyone who contributed.
Why is the Monkey Bus important ?
Having reliable transport is essential for ensuring our work in protecting the Endangered Barbary macaque can continue. The Monkey Bus enables us to carry out all our work, from transporting confiscated macaques and vultures so they can be released into the wild to surveying and monitoring populations of macaques. The Monkey Bus has also to transport bricks and other building materials to the conservation and education centre that we are building in Bouhachem.
If the Monkey Bus is off the road then we will be unable to visit village schools or to provide advice and support to our BMAC shepherds as they protect macaque groups, and we will not be able to react to information about Barbary macaques being held illegally.
The Monkey Bus in the forest and visiting a school.
Sponsor the Monkey Bus
BMAC is very grateful for support from any sponsors interested in working with us. If your company (4×4 club, travel agency or tour company) would be interested in sponsoring our NGO, nationally or locally, please contact us to find out more.
You can sponsor us by:
– providing us material (equipment, parts of the vehicle, tyres, oil…)
– financial contribution: €500 for the annual insurance, €250 for the road safety test, €100 / month to contribute to fuel costs.
Sponsor the Monkey Bus and we will:
– Put your name, or the name of your company or organisation, on the side of the vehicle.
– Send you a photograph recognising your support of Barbary Macaque Awareness and Conservation.
– Mention your company in our communication tools (blog, social media, flyers and more).
We will also give you regular updates on our projects by email, recognition on the website, and, if you ever visit North Morocco, we will be happy to take you for a day in the forest to give you the chance to observe wild Barbary macaques.