HOW EACH ONE WILD BEGAN: MY STORY

It’s funny looking back as I write this. Because three years ago I, probably like yourself, heard the words “primate conservation” and didn’t really think about it in much depth. I liked monkeys, of course, and I knew protecting their habitats was important, but that was about the extent of my thinking.

When I took my then five-year-old daughter to Indonesia for the first time, I had absolutely no idea it would be the start of an incredible journey into the world of protecting primates. Honestly, it all happened completely by accident.

​

One day, while taking my laundry to the local lady who provided washing services, I heard an animal call I’d never heard before. A soft cry – not a bird, not a rodent… I couldn’t place it at all. Then I looked up at an old, disused house less than twenty feet from my own and saw a tiny baby macaque tied to a wooden post. She had wire wrapped around her belly to stop her escaping – maybe three feet long, no more.

At first I was bewildered. But after asking around I discovered that this baby had been caught from the jungle to be kept as a “pet” for the local children in the village. That was going to be her life – forever.

My heart broke instantly. I knew I couldn’t let that happen.

​

But I also knew I had to tread carefully. One thing you learn quickly in Indonesia is that you don’t go charging in as a tourist telling local people what they should or shouldn’t do. So instead I gently spoke with the head of the village – who also happened to be my neighbour. Eventually I managed to persuade him to let me take the monkey, and he promised he wouldn’t catch another one as part of the agreement.

That moment changed everything.

​

I could talk for hours about caring for that little monkey, but to keep things concise I’ve shared the full story in a video on my YouTube channel @monkeyrescuetales.

Realising I knew almost nothing about primates at the time, I reached out to Bali Monkey Rescue (BMR) — and that’s where the real journey began.

​

Fast forward two years and I’ve been working with BMR ever since. I’ve been involved in seven monkey rescues and have helped care for more than fifty different macaques at the rescue centre.

Unfortunately, while I was last in Bali in April 2025, I simply ran out of money and my daughter and I had to return to the UK. For a while I convinced myself I could be happy here, satisfied with the incredible experiences I’d already had. But the truth is… it isn’t enough.

​

That’s how Each One Wild was born.

​

If I can’t always be in Indonesia helping primates directly, then I can at least help raise money for the organisations that are able to do that work every single day. That’s why I’m committed to donating 15% of profits from Each One Wild to grassroots primate protection organisations like Bali Monkey Rescue.

Because I’ve seen firsthand how desperate the situation can be for monkeys — and how little funding these organisations receive. Caring for primates is incredibly expensive, and every bit of support makes a difference.

​

I also want to be completely open about my long-term vision.

Firstly, this business will allow my daughter and I to return to Bali so I can continue working on the ground with macaque rescues and rehabilitation.

But the bigger dream goes even further than that.

​

My goal is that one day Each One Wild will grow into its own NGO primate rescue centre, rescuing, caring for, and protecting primates across Indonesia. If that happens, the majority of the business profits will go directly into funding the rescue centre — helping provide food, medical care, habitat protection, and safe spaces for rescued macaques.

​

So when you see the phrase “each purchase helps support primate conservation”, it isn’t just marketing.

It’s the entire reason this brand exists.

​

Thank you for reading — and thank you for supporting the mission.

You can also donate directly to Bali Monkey Rescue by visiting
www.balimonkeyrescue.org