A MISSION FOR THE MONKEYS
Help protect them,
they need you!
FOR THE LOVE OF MONKEYS
Turning compassion into action
The hidden reality behind “cute” monkey videos. On platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, countless clips appear every day showing monkeys dressed in dresses, diapers, or other human clothing. It may look innocent, even endearing, but behind these images often lies deep animal suffering.
Monkeys are trained to walk unnaturally upright, often under threat or coercion. Some are tied with their arms stretched out to trees for hours, unable to sit or move. Others are nearly drowned or terrorized for the sake of entertainment. Baby monkeys are taken from their mothers far too early, leaving them with lifelong trauma. Monkeys kept as pets lose their natural place within a troop and suffer in isolation. Many of these practices are illegal, yet social media platforms still allow and sometimes even reward such content. By watching, liking, or sharing these videos, we unintentionally help keep this cruelty alive.
My own battle, even against the platforms themselves. When I began raising awareness about these abuses through my own social media channels and launched a petition, my YouTube channel was suddenly removed without reason and despite never having broken any rules. It was a harsh lesson: even those who defend animals can face opposition. But that only strengthened my determination.
Your voice
matters!
MEET ILONA MONSANTO
From ambition
to action
I’m 64 years old and work with great joy as a manager at a medical-aesthetic clinic. Outside of work, I embrace life to the fullest. Traveling, reading, photography, sports, movies, documentaries, cooking, sailing, all these things color my days. And of course, I cherish laughter, good conversations, and a glass of wine with friends. I’m grateful to be surrounded by wonderful friends and family. Every day feels like a gift to me.
I believe we are the authors of our own life story, and so I write mine consciously and with gratitude every single day. People fascinate me endlessly. I’m curious about their journeys, their passions, and I always listen with genuine interest. My positive outlook and love for life go with me everywhere, whether at work, traveling, or soon during my volunteer work with the Vervet Monkey Foundation.
Yet among all my passions, there is one mission that touches me most deeply: standing up for animals who have no voice of their own. I believe monkeys deserve a free and dignified life, without diapers, costumes, fear, or coercion. My goal is to raise awareness, inform people, and hold social media companies accountable for their role in this issue.
Journey to South Africa
In October next year, I will travel to South Africa for six to eight weeks to volunteer with the Vervet Monkey Foundation (VMF). This non-profit rescues orphaned, injured, and abused vervet monkeys. They provide care, help the animals heal from trauma, and teach them to reintegrate into natural groups.
A unique part of their work is the foster mother program: orphaned babies are paired with adult female monkeys who lovingly adopt them. This allows them to learn how to live in a troop again, so they can one day thrive in a new group in the wild.
During my time there, I’ll be helping with feeding (including night shifts when babies arrive), preparing food, observing, giving attention to traumatized monkeys, supporting the integration of new arrivals, and assisting with education projects. Everything to give these animals a second chance at life.
Stay
updated
On this website (and less frequently on social media, since platforms often remove my content), I will share updates about my mission, preparations for South Africa, and my experiences at the Vervet Monkey Foundation.
