Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 3, Issue 3, Part 1

PPS PRIMATES in the SPOTLIGHT


Macaco and Pacey

Pacey
Macaco and Pacey have been slowly getting to know each other, in separate enclosures, for many weeks.

Both are ex-pets, raised by humans, and rehabilitated at Pacific Primate Sanctuary. They had bitten people before they came and were in a state of identity confusion. When they arrived, both were silent in an environment filled with primate conversation. The monkeys at the Sanctuary greeted the newcomers, but Macao and Pacey made no response. Macaco was used to sleeping in a sock and a motorcycle helmet. They related, (inappropriately), to their human caregivers, and did not know how to respond to others of their own species.
Macaco

For many months Macaco and Pacey watched and listened to the monkey families in the Sanctuary with intense interest and wonder. Growing up indoors, they had restricted movement and limited ability to navigate in the outdoors. Over time, they have learned to communicate in their own language, grown adept at running along branches, jumping, climbing, and living in the natural world. Their diet has expanded to include a full range of tropical fruits, plants and greens; much closer to what they would eat in their native forests. Slowly, they are becoming who they were meant to be— monkeys.

This week, Pacey and Macaco were both introduced into an outside enclosure together. One of the most important stages of their transformation has begun— learning to live with a companion of their own kind in the outside world. They now have the opportunity to experience, what all primates need, a relationship with another being of their own kind who understands, trusts, and cares about them.

Macaco (left) and Pacey (right) getting to know one another

Please help us continue to provide refuge for ex-pets like Pacey and Macaco. Donate now at http://www.pacificprimate.org/help-donate.htm


SANCTUARY NEWS

Carlos basking in
the sunlight
Spring is on its way, the days are getting longer and warmer. Now that the rains of winter are subsiding, the monkeys at Pacific Primate Sanctuary are spending more and more time outdoors in the sun. The weather has been wonderful for the orchard, and the citrus trees continue to be loaded with ripe oranges, lemons and grapefruits, while the papaya trees are overflowing, providing the monkeys with a bounty of fruit.


Solomon watches
floating bubbles
Intern Simon and Extern Mary Catherine introduced the monkeys to non-toxic bubbles this month for some new and exciting enrichment! Ernesto, a White-tufted Eared Marmoset, seemed quite perplexed as every attempt to catch an elusive bubble failed. Solomon, a Black-tufted Eared Marmoset, watched with fascination as several bubbles floated skyward. Olivia and her mate Lucian, a pair of White-tufted Eared Marmosets, were particularly enchanted with the bubbles, and Olivia even tried to chomp one! All in all, this new enrichment was a great success, providing wonderful entertainment to the many monkeys at PPS.


Olivia grasps at a bubble
Happily, we have been able to pair four solitary monkeys this month! These pairings are still in the early stages, and we are hopeful that the two pairs will continue to get along well into the future. First, we introduced Emilio and Vida. Emilio’s partner passed away several months ago, and he has been indicating that he would like a companion again. Vida has been introduced to other monkeys in the past, but was irritable and intolerant- making pairing attempts unsuccessful. We were very excited when she began to show an interest in Emilio. Initially, when we put the two together, Vida ignored Emilio’s attempts to gain her attention. However, after a few days of sleeping in separate sleeping houses and exploring the enclosure separately, the two began to bond! They are now sharing the same sleeping house, cuddling up together at night and scampering around their enclosure together. Even more recently, we have put Pacey and Macaco, two ex-pets, together in an enclosure. The two seem to be content sharing their living space, and we are looking forward to watching as a bond grows between the two monkeys.
At 15 years old, Gaia and Galatea
are still healthy and happy!

March is a big birthday month for the monkeys at PPS. Gaia and Galatea, twin Saddleback Tamarins just turned 15 on March 2nd! Solomon, a Black-tufted Eared Marmoset, had his 11th birthday on the 7th.
Viola, a young Capuchin monkey had her 3rd birthday on March 10th. Twin Black-tufted Eared Marmosets Viktor and Allegra will be celebrating their birthdays on March 11th, while their older brothers Carlos and Guido have their birthday on the 21st. Cotton Top Tamarin Leticia will be turning 10 on March 22, and Fiona; a White-tufted Eared Marmoset will have her birthday on March 26th!

Viola’s Third Birthday Celebration
Complete with treats wrapped in leaves, 
and delicious papaya-strawberry snacks








Happy Birthday to all Our Primate Friends!











This Blog and its content is copyright of Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc.—
© Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved.
Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following:
you may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only
you may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material
You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

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


WHAT’S HAPPENING at PPS?

Spider Monkey Enclosures:
Thanks to Steven, Adam and Jonathan, construction of the new Spider Monkey Enclosures is nearly complete! One of the round enclosures and the rectangular middle enclosure have been built and filled with many beautiful plants and branches. Steven hooked up the water and installed a fine feeding station. The next steps include putting in sliding doors that will allow us to close off areas of the enclosure when needed, constructing the final round enclosure and filling that enclosure with plants. The new enclosures will be 40 feet long, giving Carlos and Montana ample space to brachiate through the trees! We have been working with Carlos and Montana every day to get them to enter a carrier. Extern, Mary Catherine has been successfully conditioning the Spider monkeys to sit comfortably inside the kennel. Soon we will be able to move them to their new home without undo stress.

The new Spider Monkey Enclosure filled with plants and branches!

HOW TO HELP THE MONKEYS

Long time donors and friends of Pacific Primate Sanctuary have made significant contributions towards the construction of the Spider Monkey facility. However, we still need another $3,000 to complete this project. Generosity and compassion are the stuff miracles are made of— please become one of the Sanctuary’s Miracle Workers.

How to Donate Directly

We rely upon your continued contributions. Please encourage your friends and relatives to make tax-deductible donations to the Sanctuary.
You can donate online on our Website: www.pacificprimate.org or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PacificPrimateSanctuary using PayPal
or by sending your check to:

Pacific Primate Sanctuary
500-A Haloa Road
Haiku, HI 96708

With your support, you make everything we do possible

Giving Gifts of Goods and Services

Thank You to Joan and Jerry for their generous donation of a car to PPS!

Thank you to Paul, the brother of our current Intern Simon, for helping to update the PPS website! Although he is far away, Paul has helped us by adding new images to the Picture Gallery and adding more videos to the Monkey Video tab. Please visit our website to see the new changes! www.pacificprimate.org


PPS INTERNSHIP

Welcome to new PPS Intern: Olivia
Olivia’s credentials include a MSc in primate conservation from Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, England; a BS in primate behavior and ecology and a BS in biology from Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA.

During her undergraduate education, she volunteered for four years at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute cleaning, preparing meals and enrichment, and recording chimpanzee behaviors. For two of those years, she was also a caregiver using chimpanzee behaviors and American Sign Language during interactions and serving meals. She also became experienced in group leadership as the tour guide during Chimposiums (weekly tours) lecturing on Project Washoe, the state of chimpanzee conservation, and captive chimpanzees in the US. Her supervisor writes: “Olivia is extremely dedicated, reliable, honest, mature and motivated…she has a great deal of compassion and sensitivity to her fellow animals.” Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold, Associate Director, Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute

In her letter of acceptance, Olivia says: “… I look forward to meeting all of the primates… I not only hope to add to the welfare of the monkeys while I am at Pacific Primate Sanctuary, I also look forward to increasing my knowledge of primates. This is a great opportunity for me to learn about many different species of primates including their behaviors, conservation, and ways to care for them in captivity…I hope to use my previous experience and academic background to the improvement of the care of these individuals. Thank you for giving me this opportunity and I cannot wait to get started.”

Welcome Olivia, we are happy to have you at Pacific Primate Sanctuary!



This Blog and its content is copyright of Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc.—
© Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved.
Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following:
you may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only
you may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material
You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

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


CONTINUING EDUCATION


Special Topic: PPS Extern Mary Catherine


Spider Monkeys: Behavior, Ecology and Evolution of the Genus Ateles
Chapter 7: Locomotion and positional behavior of spider monkeys


Spider monkeys have a diverse range of locomotion and postural behaviors that are necessary to negotiate the upper canopy of the tropical forests in which they live. They patrol the forest in search of food and mates while maneuvering in and around the trees. As ripe fruit specialists, their food is often found dangling from slender and fragile branches too delicate to support the weight of a monkey. Spider monkeys overcome the precarious branches by employing a variety of suspended postures and types of movement.

This chapter defines several behaviors typical of the species Ateles. A set of behaviors frequently referred to in this chapter is the “leap and drop”. In order to cross gaps in the canopy, spider monkeys will expertly leap to travel horizontally or drop down from higher branches to lower ones for rapid downward vertical travel. Quadrupedal (using all 4 limbs) locomotion is commonly used to move across a continual branch, while bipedalism (using just 2 limbs) is a rather infrequent mode reserved mostly for travel on the ground and incorporates the arms and tail as balance tools. A “clamber” refers to climbing in any direction across branches protruding at different levels using a combination of arms, legs and tail. “Tail-assisted brachiation” is a gait made fluid by alternating hand grasps and tail grasps in sequence. Spider monkeys are capable of long bouts of tail-assisted brachiation suggesting this mode of locomotion is the most energetically efficient way to trek through the canopy.

Montana uses “Tail-assisted brachiation” to move around his enclosure


In order to access ripe fruit growing on weaker branches, Spider monkeys use a variety of suspended postures on nearby stronger branches. Most of the suspended postures rely heavily on the tail to support most of the body weight. The “tail-only hang” is commonly seen in wild spider monkeys, as is the “tail-hindlimb hang”, which leaves both hands free to use for feeding. We have seen this behavior here at PPS: once we started feeding Carlos and Montana from hanging buckets, Carlos took to eating upside down in a tail-hindlimb or sometimes tail-only hang. Montana prefers to eat clinging with all fours to the vertical bars of the enclosure wall, but he has been seen in a tail-hindlimb hang while using both hands to eat an orange slice.

The author of this chapter collapses the findings of several different studies into a table comparing seven wild spider monkey populations and their locomotive habits. The comparison shows locomotion varies considerably between populations and is likely an indication that environmental factors determine the monkey’s locomotion and postural behavior. For example, the leap and drop method is commonly used by spider monkeys in a population in Panama, but rarely used in a population studied in Guatemala. The comparison of the different studies also suggests the locomotion and postural behavior of spider monkeys changes depending on whether it is the dry or the rainy season. This is likely due to habitat structure changes requiring different kinds of finesse in their travels.

This chapter shows us spider monkeys are not just acrobats for aesthetics, they are finely tuned acrobats adept at travelling with great proficiency through an ever-changing and complex environment. Next time you see Carlos and Montana, pause and notice the effortless skill in their movements.

-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: PPS Intern Simon


Communal infant care in marmosets and tamarins: relation to energetics, ecology, and social organization; by Suzette D. Tardif, Mary L. Harrison, and Mary A. Simek

As we saw in the last chapter, there is much variation regarding social structure in marmosets and tamarins, both between species and within species. But one constant for both marmosets and tamarins of every species is communal infant care. Mothers quickly stop carrying their infants, leaving other members of the group to literally pick up the slack. While the mother focuses her energy on lactation, the other adults in the group carry the infant (or infants in the case of twins) around when the group is mobile. While both marmosets and tamarins are known to practice this communal infant care, the authors of this study have found that the extent of the infant care provided does vary among tamarins and marmosets. They hypothesize that the cause of this variation is related to differences in ecology.

A Cotton Top Tamarin father
carries around his infant son
Generally, 90% of marmosets and tamarins carry their offspring for at least four weeks. After that four-week time period, it becomes clear that there is a difference between marmosets and tamarins regarding the length of time that care is provided. Tamarins will carry their infants longer than marmosets. For example, it is very common for cotton-top tamarins to still be carrying their infants by the seventh and eighth week after birth, but this is unheard of in marmosets. One speculation for why this occurs is that perhaps marmoset and tamarin infants grow at an equal rate, and marmoset infants quickly become too heavy for the smaller-sized adults, while the larger adult tamarins can afford to continue carrying for longer. The authors researched this claim and found it to be untrue. They determined that in fact, tamarin and marmoset infants grow in a way that is very proportional to their corresponding adults. In other words: the size difference between an eight-week-old marmoset and their father is equal to the size difference between an eight-week-old tamarin and their father. So if the effects of body size cannot account for why marmosets carry infants for less time, what can?

Another explanation for this considers environmental factors—specifically, ranging patterns. The authors found a clear correlation between the length of travel and the amount of time an infant is carried. One might expect that the species that travel more frequently cannot continue to carry their infants. Actually, the authors discovered the opposite to be true: the monkey species that covers more ground tends to carry their infants longer. This is likely an adaption to a foraging pattern that is based on long-distance travel. Marmosets, as gumivores, can find food readily available without the need for much travel. Tamarins, on the other hand, lack the dentition (specialized teeth) to extract sap, so they must forage greater distances in search of food. In fact, they have a ranging pattern about twice that of marmosets. If they did not carry their infants with them, they would get left behind and likely die, and that’s no way for a species to survive.

-Rylands, A.B. Marmosets and Tamarins. Systematics, Behavior, and Ecology. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1993.


Special Topic: PPS COO Erin


Animal Experimentation

Every day at Pacific Primate Sanctuary we see the results of animal suffering and abuse. Monkeys have come to us in varying states of distress- missing fingers, toes, and teeth, traumatized, terrified, silent and even on death’s door- dying in our hands upon arrival. Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s immediate goal is to end the suffering of some of our fellow beings and return them to a natural state of equilibrium. We strive to provide the optimal environment and devoted care giving so this can occur. At Pacific Primate Sanctuary "surplus" laboratory primates, ex-pets and those confiscated from smugglers will never have to endure pain and exploitation.

Many of the primates at PPS have been given refuge from research laboratories. There are over 1100 U.S. facilities that test or experiment on animals. According to recently released USDA reports, 1,131,076 animals were used for scientific research in 2009: of those 124,417 were nonhuman primates. The total number of animals used in research, is however grossly misleading- in 1976 an amendment to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) stated that rats, mice, birds, horses, and farm animals were specifically excluded from the AWA laws and thus do not have to be reported. As these species make up 95% of the animals used in research, it is estimated that 100 million animals are being used in research every year in the United States.

Animals in research laboratories are often subjected to tests involving addictive drugs, isolation, water deprivation, and exposure to chemical and biological toxins. The Animal Welfare Act does not place any actual restrictions on what can be done during an experiment– in fact the law states: Nothing in this chapter... shall be construed as authorizing the Secretary to promulgate (make) rules, regulations, or orders with regard to the design, outlines, or guidelines of actual research or experimentation by a research facility as determined by such research facility;. In essence, anything can be done to the animals in the name of the experiment- the only things that are guided by the Animal Welfare Act are housing, feeding, watering, procurement, and transport of animals. So, what does that entail? Cages size regulations establish a legal minimum, which is the standard adopted by many labs. These sizes are based on the weight of the animal. For example, a 22-pound monkey is allotted 4.3 square feet. Chimpanzees are allowed a minimum of 5′ x 5′ x 7′ of space. To put this into perspective, imagine living in a space that is only large enough for you to stand up and take a few steps in any direction. Many of these animals spend their lives in these tiny cages, never given the opportunity to feel sunshine, rain or the wind in their fur, and often living in isolation. AWA requirements also stipulate that animals must be provided with adequate food and water, however many laboratories repeatedly restrict access to water or food (basic necessities) in order get the animals to perform tasks! This is not considered to be a violation of the AWA.

Minimal as these requirements are, further suffering regularly occurs from violations to the AWA. Federal Violation summaries reveal that overall U.S. labs broke the law 1,000 times in one year affecting 24,429 animals. Violations included deaths caused by starvation, boiling primates in cage washers, administering unapproved toxic chemicals, and inadequate veterinary care.

Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals, and the answer is: "Because the animals are like us." Ask the experimenters why it is morally okay to experiment on animals, and the answer is: "Because the animals are not like us." Animal experimentation rests on a logical contradiction. 
~Charles R. Magel

The debate of whether animals should be used in research is a highly charged one. Proponents state that animal testing is necessary to finding cures to diseases, and protecting humans. But is this really the case? Increasing numbers of physicians and scientists are challenging this claim. In fact, in a survey given in England in 2004, 82% of general practitioners said they were concerned that animal data can be misleading when applied to humans.

According to the Medical Research Modernization Committee (MRMC), a group of physicians, scientists and other health care professionals who evaluate the benefits, risks and costs of different health care and medical research method, there is much evidence to support the fact that animal experimentation is insufficient and unreliable. Primate tests on more than 50 HIV/AIDS preventative vaccines and 30 HIV/AIDS theraputic vaccines were successful, however in human clinical trials every single one of these vaccines failed. The widely prescribed arthritis painkiller Vioxx appeared safe and even beneficial to the heart in animal tests, but was withdrawn from the market after causing an estimated 320,000 heart attacks, strokes and cases of heart failure worldwide – 140,000 of them fatal. In London in March 2006, a new anti-inflammatory drug called TGN1412 caused devastating reactions including multiple organ failure in all six volunteers in phase 1 clinical trials, despite “proof of safety” established by tests on monkeys who were given 500 times the human dose. In fact, when the MRMC did a survey of ten randomly chosen animal models of human disease- not even one revealed any important contributions to human health.

I am not interested to know whether vivisection produces results that are profitable to the human race or doesn't....The pain which it inflicts upon unconsenting animals is the basis of my enmity toward it, and it is to me sufficient justification of the enmity without looking further. ~Mark Twain

This is not to say that nothing has ever been learned from animal research. For example: Insulin, which is vital to diabetics, was found from research on dogs. However, as Dr. Neal Barnard, M.D. states: "Let's say that it's true, that animals were indispensable to the discovery of insulin," That was a long time ago. I think to say, 'It was done this way and there's no other way it could have been done' is a bit of a leap of faith, but let's say that at the time there was no other way. You could also say that you couldn't have settled the South without slavery. Would you still do it that way today? Just because something seemed necessary or acceptable at the time is not to say that we should do it in our time."

Very little of the great cruelty shown by men can really be attributed to cruel instinct. Most of it comes from thoughtlessness or inherited habit. The roots of cruelty, therefore, are not so much strong as widespread. But the time must come when inhumanity protected by custom and thoughtlessness will succumb before humanity championed by thought. Let us work that this time may come. ~Albert Schweitzer

Within science, there exist many different ways to address a question. The same is true of experimentation, and today there are a variety of non-animal methods that can be used to discover things. These include: Epidemiology (Human Population Studies), patient studies, autopsies and biopsies, computer modeling and microdosing. Many of these options are proving to be far more effective than animal testing. One can only hope that with increased awareness, and advances in science we will one day soon see an end to animal experimentation.

They are not brethren; they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth. ~Henry Beston, The Outermost House, 1928

Following please find a short list of Cruelty Free Companies (companies that do not use animal testing).

Alba Botanica
Beauty Without Cruelty
Biokleen
Body Bistro
Burt’s Bees
Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps
Hard Candy
Hawaiian Resources Company
Kiss My Face
L’Occitane
Martha Stewart Clean
Martha Stewart PETS
Mary Kay
Paul Mitchell
Magick Botanicals
Seventh Generation
The Body Shop
Tom's of Maine
Sensibility Soaps
Urban Decay
Sonoma Soap
Wholefood Farmacy


For a complete listing please see http://www.leapingbunny.org/images/cciclist.pdf

References:

-Anderegg, C. Archibald, K. Bailey, J. Cohen, M. Kaufman, S. Pippin, J. Medical Research modernization Committee. (2006). A Critical Look at Animal Experimentation. Retrieved from http://www.mrmcmed.org/critcv.html
-Budkie, Michael. (2009). Primate Experimentation in the U.S.- The National Picture (2009 Edition). Retrieved from http://www.all-creatures.org/saen/index.html
-Dixon, Dr. Thomas. (2009) Animal Experimentation. Retrieved from http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=7
-Favre, David. Animal Legal and Historical Center- University of Michigan. (2011) Overview of the U.S. Animal Welfare Act. Retrieved from http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovusawa.htm#BM5__Which_Other_Animals
-Lauerman, John F. (1999). Animal Research. Retrieved from http://harvardmagazine.com/1999/01/mice.html
-Leapingbunny.org. (2010). Cruelty Free Shopping Guide. Retrieved from http://www.leapingbunny.org/shopping.php
-PrimateLabs.net. (2009). Fact vs. Myth. Retrieved from http://www.primatelabs.com/factvsmyth.php
-The American Antivivisection Society. (2010) Animal Research. Retrieved from http://www.aavs.org/researchAnimals.html
-Favre, David. Animal Legal and Historical Center- University of Michigan. (2011) Overview of the U.S. Animal Welfare Act. Retrieved from http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovusawa.htm#BM5__Which_Other_Animals




True benevolence or compassion, extends itself through the whole of existence and sympathizes with the distress of every creature capable of sensation.                   
- Joseph Addison


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.


This Blog and its content is copyright of Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc.—
© Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved.
Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following:
you may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only
you may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material
You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.