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Our approach

AAP is working towards a better future
for exotic mammals.

Ending the suffering of animals

In Europe, millions of animals, such as monkeys, tigers and lions, are kept as pets, traded illegally or used in circuses and other forms of entertainment. This causes an unimaginable amount of animal suffering. AAP is an international animal welfare organization and believes this must stop!

The two-step approach of AAP

  • 1 AAP takes in animals in distress and we make sure they get better. Then we find for as many animals as possible a place where they can stay permanently. We operate in three steps:
Rescue
Rehabilitation and resocialization
Outplacement
  • 2 AAP advocates across Europe for better laws and regulations to prevent animal suffering. We focus on:
Exotic pets
Animals in entertainment
Wildlife trafficking

Tackling causes

Our commitment to better laws and regulations for exotic mammals in Europe is having an effect.
Read more about the work of AAP.

More about Public Policy
Chimpanzee Linda was locked away by her owners and had to spend 30 years in solitude.
The Story of Linda
The old tiger Luli was rescued from a zoo in Spain. She was the only animal to remain behind after the zoo had to close down.
The story of Luli
Due to a succesful petition AAP managed to prevent wild raccoons being shot down. At AAP they are brought together in small groups.
The story of the raccoons
In 2018 AAP was able to relocate five former circus tigers to a nice zoo in England.
The story of the tigers
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Questions & answers - the work of AAP

AAP is determined to reach its ultimate goal; to end the suffering of exotic animals in Europe! Our dream is therefore clear, AAP is working towards a world where exotic animals can be ‘animals’ again.
AAP wants, within its possibilities, to make a difference for the animals that need it most. The combination of our shelter expertise and insight in reported animal suffering, make it clear to us that these three areas should be AAP’s main focus for the time being.
Since our establishment AAP has been experiencing every day that rescue facilities for exotic mammals are still badly needed. The number of rescue requests continuously exceeds the available shelter capacity. In addition, AAP is one of the few specialized rescue centers in Europe that caters to the fate of specifically exotic animals. If we wouldn’t help these animals, what would be their fate otherwise?
AAP wants to set realistic and achievable goals and therefore focuses on the European Union. In the past 50 years AAP has developed into an expert sparring and solutions partner for many European authorities. AAP’s method of providing practical rescue solutions and expertise on legislative/policy activities is therefore unique in Europe, which brings us to the table of the right people. As a result, we find that for the time being we can make the most difference to millions of exotic animals that suffer daily in Europe.

Before AAP takes in animals we first check if taking in the animal does not pave the way for the purchase of a new animal. In that case AAP would actually be stimulating the demand and therefore be responsible for the trade in new animals. We do this selection in all cases where the animals are kept in a professional capacity. However, with laboratory animals we often run into a major dilemma. If we do not take the monkeys in, they often end up in terminal studies or the animals are disposed of as surplus. If we do take them in, new animals are often purchased that have to suffer the same terrible fate.

AAP has insufficient in-house expertise to determine the extent to which monkeys are necessary as experimental animals in certain experiments. Therefore AAP calls in the help of animal welfare organizations that have more expertise in this field and a large social consensus. Together we then look at whether helping to retire the test monkeys will contribute positively or negatively to reducing the number of laboratory animals. Finally, in those cases where we take in the monkeys, AAP asks for a contribution to the care costs. This is not because our donors would not be willing to help, but because in our view the cost of a retirement solution should be part of the research budget. The user pays!

Fortunately, as a result of these measures, more and more former laboratory animals are getting the future they deserve and there are no more animals getting into trouble: that is what we call sustainable help.

On our own, we cannot solve all the problems surrounding the welfare of exotic animals. That is why we like to work together with similar organizations, authorities and research institutes from all over the world. This is how we increase our impact. Where possible, we also work together with our opponents. After all, they need to be convinced that they too have an interest in animal welfare and species protection.

  • AAP is a member of Eurogroup for Animals. Together we work to improve the welfare of non-domesticated, exotic animals within the European Union. For example, AAP works with Eurogroup for Animals against the illegal trade in Barbary macaques.
  • AAP is a member of EARS (European Alliance of Rescue Centres and Sanctuaries). Together we strive for sustainable improvements in the welfare of animal species and address the underlying causes, ultimately making shelters and sanctuaries unnecessary.
  • AAP is a member of Species Survival Network. Here we work on improved (implementation of) laws and regulations, in order to protect species internationally.
  • AAP is part of the Dierencoalitie (Animal Coalition) and works with the (Dierenbescherming) Animal Protection Society to improve animal welfare in the Netherlands.
  • AAP is part of the InfoCircos coalition, which is working to end the use of wild animals in Spanish circuses.
And many more!