Royal praise for deserving cause

Reprinted with permission from The Post and Courier in Charleston South Carolina
December 30, 2003

Not many organizations in the world can boast of a royal patron, and it is rare for an entity in South Carolina to be so honored. The International Primate Protection League of Summerville deservedly has such a longtime supporter.

Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, sent his greetings on the 30th anniversary of the founding of the charity, which combats the illegal trafficking in primates, including monkeys, lemurs and apes, and operates a sanctuary for rescued animals.

"I am delighted to have this opportunity to offer my warmest congratulations (to the League) and my special congratulations to its founder, Dr. Shirley McGreal," he writes. "The League can look back with much pride on its very considerable achievements ... most primate populations around the globe are in a better state thanks to its activities."

The prince also commented on the bravery of Dr. McGreal and her supporters in challenging the illegal capture and trade in primates. "This is a very dangerous business and it takes real courage to collect evidence, track smugglers and bring illegal dealers to justice," he wrote.

Dr. McGreal tells us that she has met Prince Philip, who is president emeritus of the World Wildlife Fund, many times at wildlife conferences.

Over the years, he has written some 80 letters praising the IPPL's work and even wrote a letter, at Dr. McGreal's request, thanking a Miami judge for rejecting a probation plea bargain that would have saved an orangutan smuggler from imprisonment.

Tributes to the League have been arriving at its Summerville headquarters from all over the world. The anniversary is also heralded in a special edition of the League's magazine, which includes Dr. McGreal's own account of her experiences while living in Bangkok, Thailand, that prompted her to devote her life to saving primates.

The IPPL has an award-winning Web site (www.ippl.org) and was rated fifth out of more than 100 nonprofit organizations by Charity Navigator for maximizing the impact of supporters' donations. It is a deserving cause, as photographs of the animals IPPL has rescued testify, and deserving of praise for 30 years of remarkable achievement.