Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 3, Issue 7, Part 1

PPS PRIMATES in the SPOTLIGHT

This month we mourn the passing of our beloved Saddleback Tamarin, Gaia. She was rescued from a research laboratory and came to PPS in 1996 along with her twin sister Galatea, their parents, and 2 uncles. We paid for the airfare to bring the monkeys here, where they could live out the rest of their days in peace. When they arrived, they were in terrible condition. One of the monkeys, Aeneas, was curled up in a ball of pain and was urinating blood. He never even had a chance to experience life at the Sanctuary. Tragically, all of the other monkeys who came with Gaia and Galatea passed away within two weeks of their arrival, the result of years of neglect in the laboratory, which no amount of care could remedy.

Gaia and Galatea were young, and fortunate to be able to live their rest of their lives in the greenery, free from exploitation. Each morning, the these two sisters would climb along the mesh in their outdoor enclosure, exposing their bellies to the warmth as the sun’s rays glistened on their coppery fur. Each caregiver passing by would always pause to watch them. Their songs rang through the corridor, so unique, it was impossible not to smile when you heard them. Gaia was a beautiful old woman at 15 years old, and lived a long, happy life at the Sanctuary. We will all miss her dearly, and always remember her amazing melodious calls, her sweet disposition, and what a privilege it was to care for her.

Please help us continue to provide monkeys such as Gaia and Galatea a refuge from Research Laboratories. Donate now at: http://www.pacificprimate.org/help-donate.htm

SANCTUARY NEWS

Happy 17th Birthday Bruno!!

Bruno came to Pacific Primate Sanctuary as an antisocial, traumatized, Laboratory monkey. At 17 years old, Bruno is the oldest White-tufted Eared Marmoset at PPS. After rehabilitation at the Sanctuary, he is living a natural, long life with a loving companion.




Carlos and Montana have settled in well to their new enclosures! They have been taking full advantage of all that their new home has to offer: lounging on platforms in the sun, brachiating across branches, foraging from the many plants, moving from one area to the next to explore and gaining confidence. All of the extra activity has done wonders for the boys, their coats are shiny and they have both slimmed down!

It is very moving to see that the Spider monkeys have come home to a place of peace and healing after witnessing them on display at tourist attractions for most of their lives. At PPS they can finally experience their full range of natural movement, a green environment, the nurturing of devoted Sanctuary caregivers, and the respect they deserve.

WHAT’S HAPPENING at PPS?

Congratulations to Erin on becoming PPS Manager: In addition to her duties as Operations Officer, (doing a wide variety of administrative tasks), Erin is now supervising morning walk through, assessing the status of each monkey and leading our weekly staff meetings. She will also be aiding in the training of new volunteers and overseeing the growth and management of our Sanctuary. Erin has been developing the leadership skills to be an effective manager. She is now doing the planning, organizing, supervising, and assisting in allocating our resources, to achieve the Sanctuary’s goals and objectives. Her skills and dedication are an inspiration. We are blessed to have her managing Pacific Primate Sanctuary!

Congratulations Dr. Bud for being selected as the County of Maui's Volunteer Center Quarterly Hero! The Volunteer Hero Program is a project that recognizes outstanding volunteers and acknowledges their contributions. The program awards individuals for their outstanding service and commitment to the community. Pacific Primate Sanctuary nominated our Vice President, Dr. Bud, for his loyalty and many years of devoted, caring service to the monkeys and our organization.

Updated PPS Website
Lucy and Erin are currently working on updating the Sanctuary Website. Most recently, we have made changes to our History and Mission Page (http://pacificprimate.org/history.htm), as well as Species at the Sanctuary (http://pacificprimate.org/meet.htm). These pages have been revised to include the Spider monkeys, new pictures, and current information. We have also made some style changes to the Monkey Videos page (http://pacificprimate.org/cam.htm).

Next, we plan on re-doing the old Volunteer page, to include quotes and pictures of our current PPS Angels! Please check back soon to see what changes we have made.

Helping the Monkeys
We are currently in need of more local volunteers! If you live on Maui and are interested in becoming one of Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s Angels, and volunteering your time and skills please e-mail us at PPS@aloha.net. We are looking for Animal Caregiver Volunteers, as well as Office Assistants, Handymen, and Gardeners/Landscapers.


How to Donate Directly
We deeply appreciate your continued partnership. You, and your family and friends, can make tax-deductible donations to the Sanctuary on our Website: www.pacificprimate.org and on FaceBook, using PayPal, or by sending a check to:

Pacific Primate Sanctuary

500-A Haloa Road

Haiku, HI 96708

With your support, you make everything we do possible!

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