Veteran zine maker Carrie McLaren has launched a new publication exploring the complex and often troubling history of human interactions with monkeys. The first issue of her new zine, *Ape Sh*t*, delves into the rise and challenges of a Boston-based organization that provided "service monkeys" to people with quadriplegia, as well as the broader cultural narratives surrounding monkeys in human society.
McLaren, who previously produced the 1990s and early 2000s zine *Stay Free!*, which examined American consumer culture and mass media, said the new project was inspired partly as a distraction from the turbulent social climate in recent years. The zine’s initial issue focuses on Helping Hands, a nonprofit established in the 1970s that trained capuchin monkeys to assist individuals with disabilities by performing simple tasks like picking up objects or operating light switches. While widely celebrated in the media as an uplifting success story, McLaren’s research reveals a more complicated reality for both the monkeys and the people involved.
According to the zine, clients showed limited enthusiasm for the monkeys, who often proved difficult to manage and prone to creating messes. The animals’ living conditions were frequently harsh: many were confined to small cages, subjected to partial tooth removal, and trained using electrical shocks. Despite these criticisms, Helping Hands continued its work until it rebranded as Envisioning Access in 2023.
The zine includes an interview with Alison Pascoe, a former monkey trainer for the organization who critiques its methods and the broader impact on primate welfare. Pascoe recounts the use of shock treatment and raises concerns about the promotion of capuchins as potential pets. She also described how female monkeys underwent hysterectomies to prevent monthly heat cycles, detailing the emotional bond she formed with one monkey named Amelia.
In response to these allegations, Envisioning Access issued a statement defending its decades-long commitment to human-animal bonds while acknowledging advancements in primate care standards since the 1970s and 1980s. The organization noted that no new monkeys have been born into the program since 1999 and emphasized ongoing support for monkeys currently in their care.
Beyond the service monkey narrative, *Ape Sh*t* examines the culture of organ grinder monkeys, historically used by street performers. The zine features unsettling historical accounts of abuse, including harsh training methods intended to "break the monkey’s spirit," and incidents where monkeys caused accidents or retaliated against their handlers. It also highlights some lighter moments with anecdotes of mischievous monkeys escaping cages or engaging in playful behavior.
The publication concludes by offering a look at capuchin monkeys in the wild, showcasing research and photography that illustrate their natural behaviors and social structures.
McLaren’s interest in this topic was sparked by a chance encounter with a book about Leonard Williams, founder of a well-known monkey sanctuary in England, which led her to explore the broader, often fraught, relationship between humans and nonhuman primates. With *Ape Sh*t*, she aims to shed light on the power dynamics underlying these interactions and plans future issues to continue this exploration.