Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 1, Part 1

We hope that you enjoy this January issue of 
Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s E-Newsletter. 
 Many wishes for a happy and healthy New Year!

PPS PRIMATES in the SPOTLIGHT

Gaia and Galatea are 13-year-old twin Saddleback Tamarins. They are the only two Saddleback residents here at the Sanctuary, and have spent their lives together. They came to Pacific Primate Sanctuary from a laboratory on the mainland; when they arrived they had no teeth, and were very frightened. Over the years they have thrived here at the Sanctuary, spending as much time out of doors as possible. Each morning, these two girls rush outside to bask in the sunlight, running along the branches in their greenroom. They have such unique voices, and their trilling songs can be heard resounding through the corridors. They are constant companions, and spend most of their time in close proximity. Although they have no teeth, they seem to have no problems enjoying all delicious foods they are given- particularly fresh coconut

NOTABLE NEWS

The residents at Pacific Primate Sanctuary had a great end to 2009! The interns decorated the Sanctuary for the Holiday Season, and the monkeys were very interested in the sparkling lights decking the corridor halls.

PPS President, Lucy, shows the monkeys

 a tray of luminous candles

PPS Volunteers passing out a 
holiday treat of dried plantains and nuts

We celebrated with a special treat of dried plantains and nuts, and brought candles down the corridor as a special visual enrichment. The weather has continued to be chilly and rainy, but we are still seeing warm sunny days in between. The monkeys have been taking advantage of their heat lamps this month, and enjoy taking naps after breakfast under the warm glow. The sunny days are always a cause for celebration, with the animals spending most of their day outside, soaking up the rays. Fern and Xylophone, our newest Residents, certainly haven’t let the chillier weather keep them from their outdoor world! These two continue to spend as much time as possible outside, and always end the day by snuggling together in their soft sleeping house.

Our youngest residents, Jason and Ira, just celebrated their 1st Birthday on New Year’s Day. These twin brothers are critically endangered Cotton Top Tamarins, and have spent a lot of time playing in their greenroom with Adam, their father, this month.    

Jason and Ira as infants with Adam

Brenda, our oldest Marmoset, had a very successful dental surgery this month! Her teeth are now in tip-top shape, and we have seen a great increase in her energy and appetite. She and her mate have spent a great deal of time grooming since she recovered from her surgery and was returned to her enclosure. Echo and Apollo, two elderly Cotton Top Tamarins got a new “super highway” this month. These two have mobility problems, and have a specialized walkway built into their enclosure to allow them to move around their Greenroom. This month, they got an extra wide walkway connecting their resting shelf to their feeding platform. They have been zooming back and forth, and seem to enjoy the easier access to their favorite thing- FOOD!

The Capuchins are also all doing very well this month! Young Viola outsmarted her Grandma, Miranda, by hiding half of her apple under Intern Alli’s pant leg while she finished the other half. Once finished, she ran down to her clever hiding place, and retrieved the rest of her snack!
Miranda has been enjoying fresh figs, one of her favorite snacks, which recently came into season. Prospero spent time playing a “knocking” game with Miracle in the nest box this month! Prospero would go inside the nestbox then knock three times. When Miracle would hear this she would race in, then come back out. Prospero would again knock three times. This cycle went on several times until Miracle reciprocated by starting a game of play wrestle inside the nestbox.



Miranda, a white faced Capuchin


MEET MORE MONKEYS

Olivia and Lucian
A pair of White-tufted Ear Marmosets are enthralled with the holiday candles. These candles were presented as visual and olfactory enrichment for the monkeys.






Open Wide!
Solomon, a Black-Tufted Ear Marmoset enjoys a special holiday treat, dried Plantain!







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