Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 12, Part 3

PPS INTERNSHIP

Introducing our newest Resident Intern: Simon Breen
Pacific Primate Sanctuary has selected Simon Breen as our Resident Intern beginning in December 2010. Simon spent the last two years working in the Peace Corps in Nicaragua. He is planning on going to Graduate School in the fall, and some day hopes to open a primate rehabilitation center in Colombia. Simon has a passion for primate conservation, and is very excited to join us at the Sanctuary. Simon writes:

It is with the utmost enthusiasm and joy that I accept the position as a resident intern primate caregiver at the Pacific Primate Sanctuary. I am so sincerely honored to have this opportunity to join the family at the sanctuary in your mission to protect distressed primates and contribute to their conservation.


I promise to arrive with able hands and open mind, ready to listen, to learn, and to perform the tasks expected of me. During my time as your resident intern I promise to devote myself wholehearted to the primates at your center, to adhere to your rules and protocol, and to never forget that the needs of the primates come before my own.


I understand that the position is unpaid, but the reward of sharing in this noble cause is payment enough. This sense of fulfillment will sustain me for the duration of my internship… I predict that my interning will be the beginning of a meaningful lifelong partnership between your center and myself in the effort to conserve New World primates.


My reverence for the work that you and your esteemed staff and volunteers do at your sanctuary for New World monkeys is immeasurable. Thank you for this opportunity to serve these magnificent beings alongside you. I earnestly hope that in time, I will come to be accepted by all the monkeys at your center and their bipedal counterparts.

Welcome Simon, we are so happy that you are joining the Sanctuary Family!

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Special Topic: Lisa
Spider Monkeys, Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution of the Genus Ateles


Chapter 5: Factors influencing spider monkey habitat use and ranging patterns

There are a variety of factors influencing primate-ranging behavior. These can include food abundance and distribution, even the location of water resources, and sleeping sites. Due to the fact that spider monkeys are ripe fruit specialist, they exhibit wide-ranging behavior. Spider monkeys tend to be found in the relatively tall evergreen and semi-deciduous (refers to plants that lose part of their foliage) tropical forest types throughout their range. Some of the factors that affect their habitat use and ranging patterns are the availability and distribution on fruit resources in the forest. In some species of spider monkeys, mineral licks and water resources are an important influence on their ranging behavior. While much research has been done about habitat use patterns there have been relatively few studies that examine habitat use in terms of overall habitat preferences, this would be useful in giving a more complete understanding of factors affecting spider monkey foraging and ranging behavior.

-Campbell, Christina J. Spider Monkeys: The Biology, Behavior, and Ecology of the Genus Ateles (Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology). UK. Cambridge University Press. 2008.

Special Topic: Mary Catherine


Positive Reinforcement Training Update

Positive reinforcement simply refers to rewarding a desired behavior in order to increase the chances of that behavior occurring again. This technique also provides a way to communicate with others in a clear and humane manner. A positive reinforcement program implemented in daily husbandry routines can result in captive animals and their caregivers experiencing mutually beneficial effects.

Here at PPS the marmosets and tamarins are being taught to voluntarily step on a scale when one is placed in their enclosure. Every monkey learns at a different pace, so while Mariette enjoys hopping on the scale and receiving a treat, FIONA is still a bit suspicious of stepping up entirely onto the scale for more than a few seconds. These are two examples of how monkeys can work with their caregivers and communicate to them their comfort levels in performing certain actions. Patience and continued exposure to the scale is likely to increase Fiona’s comfort level with this action while also developing trust for her human caregivers.

MIRACLE, a female capuchin, has been busy this month learning to associate a “click” from a handheld clicker with a small treat. Once this connection was established, Miracle quickly learned specific behaviors, such as holding out her hand for her human caregiver to inspect. Aside from being mentally stimulating, this technique is helpful in the event that a finger or hand injury needs to be examined. She has also learned to hold out each of her legs on cue. Miracle is quite clever so she is learning and retaining a lot of information.





“The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.” —Helen Keller


We hope you have enjoyed this issue of Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s E-Newsletter. Thank you for your support of our life saving work. Because of compassionate people, the Sanctuary can continue to provide a place of peace and happiness for 74 primates saved from research laboratories, animal dealers, and smugglers. Here they can heal, form families, and live free from exploitation.

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