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When I first learned of Ruth Montiel Arias and Liz Tyson's new book, From Harm to Healing: Sanctuary Stories of Rescue, Resilience, and Recovery, I couldn't wait to get my eyes on it and my high expectations were totally met. Nonhuman primates are profoundly complex, intelligent, and emotional beings who are born to live in dynamic and ever-changing societies with family, friends, and competitors.
Tragically, these sentient beings kept as pets have had their opportunities to live full natural lives snatched from them at birth. Those lucky enough to find their way to sanctuaries do not experience immediate good lives but embark on a long journey of recovery as they navigate living alongside those of their own kind for the first time. From Harm to Healing tells the stories of eight monkeys rescued from the pet trade. Some heartwarming, and some heartbreaking, this important book gives us a glimpse into the inner workings of one of the largest primate sanctuaries in the United States.
Here's what Liz had to say about their book, which seeks to share the individual tales of the monkeys from their perspective and makes the case that, while sanctuaries are vital to protect animals from further harm, they are not the answer to end animal suffering.
Marc Bekoff: Why did you write From Harm to Healing?
Liz Tyson: My co-author, Ruth, who is a dear friend, incredibly talented photographer, and dedicated activist, came out to Texas from Spain to put together a visual art project at our sanctuary in late 2021. During her three months in the U.S., the idea for the book evolved and became From Harm to Healing. It is a tribute to a small number of the more than 1,000 monkeys we have cared for since Born Free USA took over our sanctuary in 2008.
MB: How does your book relate to your backgrounds and general areas of interest?
LT: I have had the privilege of working with and for monkeys for more than 20 years. Whether it has been hands-on care in sanctuaries, conservation of primates in their natural habitat, or campaigning against their exploitation in captivity, monkeys and their welfare have been a major focus of my work for two decades. This book has allowed my co-author and me to show the cruelty of the trade in primates as pets while sharing the hopeful and important work done by sanctuaries around the world.
MB: Who do you hope to reach in your interesting and important book?
LT: Anyone who has an interest in, and love for, animals will enjoy this book. Thanks to the stunning photography by Ruth, we also hope to reach those who might not have considered the work of sanctuaries, yet who are drawn to the book’s artistry. As profits from the book go directly towards Born Free’s work with and for animals, we also hope people will choose to purchase a copy in direct support of the care of the wonderful monkeys featured.
MB: What are some of the major topics you consider?
We wanted the book to explore the work of a sanctuary through the experiences of some of the monkeys we have rescued and their caregivers. The primate pet trade tears babies away from their mothers and, for those we can rescue, every monkey has an individual story and needs. It is commonly believed that arrival at a sanctuary after rescue is the happy ending these animals deserve, but that is not true. Rescue is just the beginning of a journey of recovery that each monkey embarks on. For some, it is swift and simple, for others that journey can take a lifetime. We wanted to capture this in photographs and words, allowing a unique insight into these incredible individuals and our work.
MB: How does your book differ from others that are concerned with some of the same general topics?
The hyperfocus on individual stories in our book provides meaningful insight into the lives we are documenting. It is common for animals to be quantified by numbers: 15,000 primates in the pet trade; 75,000 primates in laboratories; untold thousands of primates in zoos. We wanted to flip this and consider a very small number of individuals, their personal experiences, their personalities, their behavior, their challenges, and their friendships. Because every single animal who is exploited for human gain is a person. They all have their stories and a life that is important to them. I hope that this is what people take away. Every one of our sanctuary’s residents is beloved to those who already know them, and we wanted others to see just how special these animals are.
MB: Are you hopeful that as people learn more about this topic they will come to appreciate more the work that people like you are doing?
LT: I think it is less about appreciating our work and more about appreciating the animals we work for. It is for them that sanctuaries need to exist, but we would love to close our doors one day when the pet trade in these complex, profoundly sentient animals finally ends. We do work hard to both care for the monkeys and campaign for their freedom, and I could not be prouder of our incredible team, but it really is about the animals. It is vital that the Captive Primate Safety Act, which would ban the private keeping of primates as pets in the United States, is implemented as soon as possible. Ending the trade is the only way to protect future generations of monkeys and apes from harm.
