Tessa Wilde, PhD, RVT

FOunder, executive director

Tessa Cannon founded For the Love of Primates in 2019 with the goal of creating a sanctuary for primates retired from laboratory research, previously used in entertainment, kept as pets, or otherwise in need of long-term care. Tessa grew up in upstate New York, but has lived in Ohio since 2009 (with a brief hiatus to earn her master’s degree in the UK!).

Tessa decided to dedicate her life to primates after volunteering with orphaned baboons in South Africa as an undergraduate and continued on to earn her veterinary technician license, master’s degree in Primate Conservation, and PhD in Anthropology (Primatology). During her master’s research, she created individualized enrichment plans to address stereotypic and self-injurious behavior in primates with compromised backgrounds and these amazing animals found a permanent place in her heart.

Tessa is so proud of how far For the Love of Primates has come, and how many lives it has touched, since the organization was founded and is so excited to watch it continue to grow.

Contact Tessa via email at: twilde@fortheloveofprimates.org.