A monkey sanctuary now calls Jackson County home.
Small Primate Animal Rescue of Tennessee, also known as SPARTN, is located off York Hwy in Gainesboro. SPARTN Founder Michael Robison said he started SPARTN in Nashville but moved to Jackson County as it provided more space for the monkeys.
“You know, just needed to be out, have room, have space to grow, and a slower pace of life that is better suited for the care and the well-being of the animals that we watch over,” Robison said.
Robison said his sanctuary has 17 monkeys. Most were surrendered by private owners. Robison said one of the monkeys was rescued from an illegal smuggling operation. Robison said Spider Monkeys are the number one illegally smuggled animal.
“They are poached right out of the Yucatan Peninsula, there in Mexico,” Robison said. “So, you know, they pay these local poachers $50, $100, $200 maybe to go out and capture these monkeys, which is an egregious act because you have to kill a lot of members of that monkey troop in order to confiscate and take that one animal to get it across the border. But once it enters the United States and enters the illegal pet trade, that animal becomes worth anywhere from $10,000-$25,000.”
Robison said he has been an animal lover his whole life. Robison said he believes it is important to protect monkeys as the human world is taking over.
“A lot of them have faced extinction in some form or another or loss of habitat,” Robison said. “I think taking care of them, we can preserve that, but I also think there’s an opportunity to educate and to share these animals with people.”
Robison said in 2019, he became heavily involved with various other animal sanctuaries. Robison said during the pandemic, the need for sanctuaries was at an all-time high. He also said he had always wanted to have his own sanctuary, and with a need for space for the animals, SPARTN was born.