Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 12, Part 1

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ALL THE MONKEYS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS!

PPS PRIMATES in the SPOTLIGHT

Meet Apollo and Echo

Echo and Apollo are critically endangered Cotton Top Tamarins. They were born in a research laboratory in April 1995. There are currently 120,000 primates in laboratories in the US. Echo and Apollo spent the first two years of their lives in a lab. They were sent to Pacific Primate Sanctuary, along with 9 other Cotton Top Tamarins, whose endangered status protected them from being put to death in the lab. Both Echo and Apollo were missing fingers and toes because of bad housing and poor living conditions. They were injured both physically and mentally and were very traumatized when they arrived at the Sanctuary.

Echo

Today, Echo rushes to her feeding platform eager for breakfast, always the first one in her enclosure to greet the volunteers bringing her food. She and Apollo spend hours in outside. Now, in their advanced age, their mobility has greatly decreased and they are no longer able to jump and climb as they once did. We have created a jungle walkway for them (from re-cycled refrigerator shelves) so they can continue to live outdoors and enjoy the sun, the wind, and the many plants in their enclosure. Echo

Please help us continue to provide monkeys such as Echo and Apollo a refuge from research laboratories and the inhumane exotic pet trade.
Donate now at http://www.pacificprimate.org/help-donate.htm

NOTABLE NEWS

This Month we grieve the passing of our precious Jane, a White-tufted Eared Marmoset. Jane was born at a biomedical laboratory and came to Pacific Primate Sanctuary with her family in 2004. Jane spent the last 6 years with us here at the Sanctuary with the sun warming her fur as she leapt through the greenery with her partner, Emilio, by her side. We will all miss her dearly.


The monkeys were very excited with the enrichment they were given this month. Deidre and Daisy were enthralled with paper bag foraging. They were given a paper bag that was crumpled up after being filled with treats. The monkeys had to open up the bags and go digging inside to find their surprise. Deidre and Daisy worked their way into the bag at the same time, so you could just see their back legs and tail sticking out! Other monkeys enjoyed the enrichment involving popcorn. Chloe and Guido liked working popcorn off of a string, while Lily and Nikki spent lots of time hanging from their mesh ceiling to get to the popcorn that was scattered across the top of their enclosure.

Leticia eating a Thanksgiving sweet potato

The Volunteer Caregivers here at PPS prepared a wonderful Thanksgiving meal for the monkeys this year. Breakfast for the Marmosets and Tamarins included sweet potatoes and maple yogurt. The Capuchins were given yummy pumpkin and celery with peanut butter and raisins, while the Spider monkeys enjoyed baked sweet potatoes and raisins. The special holiday foods were a big hit with all of the monkeys. All primates like celebrations!


We have continued to move monkeys into the Extension, and now have 21 primates living in their new home! This last month we moved Abraham over, an elderly Black-tufted Eared Marmoset. Abraham seems to be quite content in his new enclosure. Carlos and Margarite were also moved in, and have been eagerly exploring all the plants and enjoying the sunshine.



We have two monkeys with birthdays this month, and they happen to be twin sisters! Dyna and Vida will be turning 7 years old on December 31. Please join us in wishing these two sisters a very Happy Birthday!

Vida cuddled in a blanket

MEET MORE MONKEYS

Armando enjoys a special Thanksgiving treat of sweet potato perched on his nestbox.

Viola is exhibiting the relaxed open mouth display, or “play face”. Her facial expression indicates that she feels safe, secure, and comfortable and that she wants to play.
Sometimes it is accompanied by bouncing, reaching out her tail, foot or arms, and an excited “hhaa, hhaa, hhaa”!

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