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Last Updated: Friday March 19 2010 18:28 GMT

Massive monkey rescue is success

One of the rescued Capuchin monkeys

Eighty-eight monkeys have been saved from a science lab in South America, in the biggest-ever rescue of its kind in the world.

Some of the Capuchin monkeys had been locked away on their own for up to 20 years, only being allowed out to take part in experiments.

They were kept in cramped cages in Chile, without sunlight or fresh air.

Newsround went to see how the monkeys are settling down at their new home in Monkey World in the south of England.

Around 250 animals, which have been rescued from all over the world, are looked after at the sanctuary in Dorset.

Bosses at the science lab in Chile asked Monkey World to take the furry creatures away, because of pressure from animal rights groups.

One of the rescued Capuchin monkeys

Capuchin monkeys are usually very friendly creatures and live in groups of around 35 in the wild in Central and South America.

But the monkeys had been living in cages on their own, so they're only now getting to meet their friends.

Fresh air

Jez Hermer, from the rescue centre, said they're getting the monkeys used to spending time with each other before they're allowed outside.

"Life will be massively improved for them now," he said.

"In a couple of weeks, they're going to be outside in the fresh air, they'll see the sky for the first time and they'll be climbing in real trees - fantastic!"