Vancouver Sun

Thursday, March 18, 2004
SURREY - Three barbary macaques seized by the B.C. SPCA from an exotic animal farm in Kaslo 14 months ago are leaving Friday for a U.S. primate sanctuary.

Joining them will be a fourth macaque born at the SPCA's Surrey shelter after it was discovered that one of the two females seized was pregnant.

The macaques, which are native to northwest Africa, will be heading to the Wild Animal Orphanage in San Antonio, Tex., where they will be placed in a quarter-acre enclosure.

Since their seizure, they have been living out of public view in a purpose-built pen at the Surrey SPCA.

The macaques, along with 99 other primates, exotic birds, miniature horses, chinchillas, lamas, pot-bellied pigs and other animals, were seized from a farm belonging to Blaine Bennett and Judy Kurenka in November 2002.

Bennett and Kurenka have since been charged with 13 counts of cruelty to animals.