Fundació Mona

Rescue and rehabilitation in Girona

Fundació Mona is a nonprofit based in Riudellots de la Selva, Girona, Spain, dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating primates. Its recovery center cares for chimpanzees and macaques that were used in circuses, television, advertising, or as pets and suffered abuse. The foundation provides them with group living in a natural setting to support their physical and psychological recovery.

Conservation, education, and research

• Rescue and rehabilitation: care and recovery for primates that lived in captivity under poor conditions.
• Environmental education: educational programs for all ages.
• Primatology training: courses, university microcredentials, postgraduate specialization diplomas, and a master's degree in primate conservation and welfare, with online coursework and in-person practice at the center.
• Research and behavior: applied studies of primate behavior and welfare.
• Conservation: efforts to protect threatened species.

Primatology training programs

The foundation offers a training pathway in primatology that includes:

• University microcredential in Primatology Fundamentals: Biology, Welfare, and Conservation (11 ECTS credits, two months).
• University microcredential in Primatology Fundamentals: Research Applied to Conservation and Welfare (9 ECTS credits, one and a half months).
• Specialization diploma in Primatology Research (30 ECTS credits, five months).
• Professional diploma in Primate Caregiving (30 ECTS credits, five months).
• Master's degree in Primate Conservation and Welfare (60 ECTS credits, 10–16 months).

Expansion project

The foundation has acquired 24 hectares for a new site, planned to include 20,000 square meters of outdoor enclosures for rescued animals and nearly 2,000 square meters of facilities. The project is intended to expand its capacity and improve conditions for the primates in its care.

How to support Fundació Mona

As a nonprofit, Fundació Mona relies largely on members, animal sponsors, socially responsible companies, and volunteers. Support options include sponsoring a primate, making a one-time donation, volunteering, partnering with a company through direct donations or project sponsorship, donating goods or a portion of sales, and leaving a legacy or inheritance. The foundation also has a gift shop with items such as stuffed animals, mugs, bags, and calendars.

Planning a visit

The center is open to the public by reservation. Address: Carretera C-25 (Cassà–aeroport), no number, 17457 Riudellots de la Selva, Girona, Spain. Phone: +34 972 477 618. General email: info@fundacionmona.org.

25 years of work

In 2026, the foundation marked its 25th anniversary at an institutional event attended by the president of the Parliament of Catalonia and guests from Girona's scientific, primatology, and business communities.