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​Tommy’s early life was nothing short of heartbreaking. For seven long years, he was confined to an impossibly small cage, with barely enough space to turn around, let alone stretch or climb. The cramped conditions caused his spine to curve unnaturally, a painful deformity that will stay with him for life. In his desperate attempts to find relief, Tommy even dug a hole in the floor of his cage, trying to stretch his legs and straighten his back. But the damage was already done.

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His world was one of darkness, isolation, and constant discomfort. Without any social interaction, no sunlight on his face, and no room to move, it’s truly a miracle that Tommy has not only survived but developed the social skills needed to now live alongside other monkeys.

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When our rescue team found Tommy, it was clear he could never be released back into the wild. In the harsh reality of monkey troop dynamics, Tommy’s spinal deformity would mark him as weak. In the wild, alpha males must constantly defend their position, and Tommy would almost certainly fall victim to younger, stronger rivals in a fight for dominance.

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But Tommy’s story doesn’t end in tragedy—it’s one of hope and resilience. Today, Tommy lives happily at BMR in an enclosure he shares with his best friends, Raffi and Lucky. While he is a gentle soul with humans (and adores tummy rubs and head strokes from the staff), he holds his own as the undeniable alpha male of his little troop.

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Tommy has become a firm favorite among our team, thanks to his cheeky personality and endearing nature. He will spend the rest of his days here with us, surrounded by love, care, and all the space he needs to live his best life. We are so proud to give Tommy the retirement he deserves—and every day, he reminds us why our work at BMR is so important.