"You have helped not only thousands of primates, but also brought hope to all those who care about them and their suffering at human hands. And the numbers of those who care has increased a thousand fold because of the awareness IPPL has raised in countries around the world."

Dr Jane Goodall DBE

Our Story

In 1971, Dr Shirley McGreal OBE had to pick up her air freight at Bangkok Airport’s cargo area on moving to Thailand from India. There she saw numerous crates of frightened monkeys awaiting export. She went home disturbed by this sight and started researching to find out where these monkeys had been taken from, and where they were destined for.

Dr Shirley McGreal and Dian Fossey

Dr Shirley McGreal with Dian Fossey in IPPL's early days

Dr McGreal soon learnt that these were stump-tailed macaques, a species that were being taken from the wild in huge numbers and flown to the West for use in biomedical research, causing a rapid decline in numbers. On realising that there was no organisation monitoring this trade and working to protect wild populations of monkeys and other primates, Dr McGreal decided to start one. In 1973, she founded the International Primate Protection League (IPPL) with the aim of protecting and conserving ALL species of non-human primate.

From its inception, IPPL has relied on voluntary representatives in countries around the world. In 1976, IPPL’s then UK representative, Cyril Rosen MBE, founded the separately registered charity IPPL (UK) and these twin organisations have been working on their shared mission of protecting and conserving primates ever since.