Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 4, Issue 2, Part 1

PPS PRIMATES in the SPOTLIGHT

Pacey is a white-tufted eared marmoset who was born at a breeding facility in Florida. Marmoset infants spend the first year of their lives riding around on their parents’ backs. At 3 weeks old, an infant is still completely dependent upon his mother and father, and yet when Pacey was at this vulnerable age, he was taken from his family by an animal dealer, placed on a plane all alone, and sent to become a pet to people he had never seen before.

Pacey’s new “owners” cared for him in the way they thought best. They did research on marmoset pet ownership, and loved him dearly. Unfortunately, the information available was often misleading and did not provide them with an understanding of the real needs and behaviors of a marmoset. Additionally, they were misinformed by the breeder, who told them that as long as they got the monkey as a baby, he wouldn’t bite anyone. As infants, marmosets are highly dependent on their parents and form a very close bond with them. With no marmoset parents, Pacey became very reliant on the humans who bought him. However, as marmosets age, their behaviors change. Adult marmosets are highly protective and very territorial. As Pacey grew older, this natural territorial nature took over. Pacey began trying to assert himself and bit people he felt were intruding, including the son of his “owners”. His natural behaviors would serve to protect his territory in the wild and ensure that he and his natal group would have plenty of food. Pacey’s new responses were not welcomed by the family- causing confusion and distress for both Pacey and the people he lived with. Initially, Pacey was allowed to roam freely; however, as his stress levels and aggression increased, he was confined to a small room, to prevent him from biting anyone. Pacey’s owners soon realized that it was unfair to him to keep him, and contacted Pacific Primate Sanctuary about providing Pacey with a more natural living environment.


"Those who wish to pet and baby wild animals, "love" them. But those who respect their natures and wish to let them live normal lives, love them more." —Edwin Way Teale, "April 28," Circle of the Seasons

While some behaviors are innate, marmosets are highly social, and learn much of their responses and communication from other marmosets. Pacey never had an opportunity to learn these social behaviors as a young monkey, since he was taken away from his mother at such a young age. When Pacey first arrived, he made very few sounds, but over time his vocabulary has greatly increased. He still does not understand how to interact naturally with other monkeys but at PPS he has the opportunity to live in close proximity and observe their interactions on a daily basis. Pacey has his own outdoor enclosure and loves to jump onto the plants and bask in the sunlight. He has had some social interaction, living with other monkeys for brief periods of time, and is slowly learning how to respond to them. When Pacey first came, he was highly stressed, easily agitated, and fixated on people. He did not act like a marmoset. We have focused on acclimating him, and have seen substantial positive changes in his behavior. Today, Pacey is calm and content and we look forward to the day when he can have a fully functioning social relationship with another monkey.

Please sponsor Pacey, and help us to provide him with a home where he can continue his rehabilitation process.
Donate now at: http://www.pacificprimate.org/help-donate.htm

SANCTUARY NEWS

Many of the animals who come to the Pacific Primate Sanctuary have never had the opportunity to express their natural behaviors. We provide refuge to monkeys who have been locked up in windowless laboratories, taken from their mothers as babies, kept in isolation, confined in small spaces, and gawked and shouted at. Our goal is to provide these animals with the best care possible, and allow them the opportunity to finally be who they are— monkeys. To us, this means giving them an environment where they are able to behave naturally.

Cotton top tamarins have very strong back legs,
which make them amazing jumpers!
 Fern, given refuge from a research laboratory,
leaps from a branch in his outdoor enclosure.

At PPS, the monkeys live in lush jungle enclosures.

 Neptune is able to use his claw-like nails to cling vertically 

to a tree branch, giving him a great vantage point.

Primates are highly social animals. 
The monkeys at Pacific Primate Sanctuary are housed socially.
Frieda grooms her partner, Bruno, strengthening their bond

Spider Monkeys naturally move through the jungles

 using a hand over hand motion, called brachiation.  

Carlos finally has an environment at PPS 

where he can brachiate for the first time.

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