WHAT’S HAPPENING at PPS
Two cotton top tamarins, who
spent their entire lives in research laboratories and were finally coming to
Pacific Primate Sanctuary, died en-route. The airline has not responded to our
inquiries. Our veterinarian says: Two endangered primates enter alive and leave dead. Not
coincidence. This is an issue that is preventable and deserves attention and
action immediately. Please sign our on-line petition at:
http://www.change.org/petitions/two-endangered-tamarins-die-on-continental-cargo-flight
Fern and Xylophone found a safe haven at Pacific Primate Sanctuary in
2009. Their history is
exceptionally similar to Scooter and Indigo’s- both pairs of critically
endangered cotton top tamarins were born at the same laboratory, and were later
both moved to research facilities in Ohio, and were examined by the same
Veterinarian before being sent to PPS.
Fern and Xylophone made it here safely, and have spent the last three years
healing. We seen an amazing transformation as they have gained weight and their
coats have become shiny and healthy. Most importantly, they have been able to
live outdoors. We watched with joy as they took their first tentative steps
outside and within days were exploring the trees and plants, sitting joyfully
in the sun, and looking up with wonder as light drops of rain fell onto their
bodies.
It is heartbreaking that Scooter and Indigo were not able to experience
the same rehabilitation. After 17 years in windowless laboratories, they were
finally on their way to a place of peace. This opportunity was stolen from them
as their lives ended tragically in the cargo hold of an airplane. Please help
us put a stop to such calamities, make your voice heard by signing the
petition. We need 420 more signatures to reach 1,000! (http://www.change.org/petitions/two-endangered-tamarins-die-on-continental-cargo-flight)
Please add your
comments to the petition. This comment
was written by Nedim C. Buyukmihci,
V.M.D., Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Medicine, University of California:
Although I accept that there are times when using the
airlines to transport non-human beings is practically unavoidable, it is
unacceptable that individuals, particularly those who have been examined and
found to be healthy, should die. There is no excuse for this. Consider that the
airlines transport millions of people yearly without them dying. Would anyone
accept that it is okay that a "few" succumb as long as it was below a
certain percentage? The fact that non-human beings die regularly during air
travel shows that the manner in which they are transported is fundamentally
flawed. The airlines charge an exorbitant amount to transport these individuals,
often more than they do human passengers. They must provide conditions for
non-human passengers that are as secure and safe as those for human passengers.
We can change federal
regulations!
Synchronistically, the Department of Transportation is
currently revising its requirements for reporting animal injuries and deaths.
They are only considering pet dogs and cats “animals”, so the airlines will not
be required to report the injuries or deaths of other nonhuman beings.
Would you please offer your comments to the Department of Transportation, letting them know that ALL animal injuries or deaths must be reported by the airlines and their definition of “animal” must be expanded, beyond dogs and cats, to include all animals transported by the airline companies.
The comment form for the proposed rule is at regulations.gov:
Would you please offer your comments to the Department of Transportation, letting them know that ALL animal injuries or deaths must be reported by the airlines and their definition of “animal” must be expanded, beyond dogs and cats, to include all animals transported by the airline companies.
The comment form for the proposed rule is at regulations.gov:
http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=DOT-OST-2010-0211-0008
PPS PRIMATES in the SPOTLIGHT
Happy Birthday Emilio and Little
Bea!
Emilio and Little Bea are
white-tufted eared marmosets (Callithrix
jacchus) who just turned 7 on August 18th.
Their
birth was a very difficult one, and sadly, their mother Blanche passed away
shortly after they were born. The
tiny infants latched onto their father, Ernesto, who quickly became “Super Dad”
caring for twins with the utmost attention. Sanctuary volunteers lent him a
helping hand, providing the infants with the nourishment they needed.
Help us continue to provide a home for Emilio and Little Bea. Please donate now at: http://www.pacificprimate.org/help-donate.htm
SANCTUARY NEWS
Anna and Melia
Cotton top tamarins, Anna and
Melia, were each left alone and distressed after the passing of their partners
last month. Young Melia, who has
never been alone before, was calling out and searching her enclosure. Knowing
that she needed the support of another monkey, we moved Anna in front of
Melia. Both monkeys immediately
showed interest in each other, and their signs of distress stopped. They have
now been paired for over a month and are getting along very well, and enjoying
each other’s company!
This month we mourn the passing of beloved Enzo.
Enzo, a white-tufted eared
marmoset, was born at PPS. His
father, Lucian was rescued from a research laboratory, and his mother, Olivia
was cross-fostered by volunteers when her mother died in childbirth.
Enzo was a quiet, mellow
monkey. He spent most of his time
in his outdoor enclosure, basking in the warm sunshine with his partner Zoey. Enzo
became ill and was diagnosed with heart disease. Sadly, he passed away on July
25th.
We held a memorial ceremony to
honor Enzo, Lazero and Magnus, who passed away last month, and Scooter and
Indigo, the two critically endangered cotton top tamarins who died en-route to
PPS.
As we gathered around the graves,
we laughed and cried together as we shared their stories and remembered their
lives. We planted Ti for each monkey who passed away, marking each with a
beautiful rock painted with each of their names.
Tragically, Scooter and Indigo
died without being able to spend their remaining years at Pacific Primate
Sanctuary. (For a full story please
go to: http://www.change.org/petitions/two-endangered-tamarins-die-on-continental-cargo-flight).
Although, we didn’t have the opportunity to provide them with the life they
deserved, we will do everything possible to prevent such disastrous mistakes
from happening again.
Words of
Appreciation for Pacific Primate Sanctuary
What you are doing at the Sanctuary fills my heart with hope…it is rare
to find others that truly make the care for the animals, for whom we serve as
caretakers and stewards, about them.
This is truly about their story and never about us. I cannot express what’s in my heart to
find that in you and what you are doing there. THANK YOU!! -Gena, Ben and Greg
Welcome to
our new Volunteers— Daniela and Rachel
We are happy to announce that two new Animal Caregiver
Volunteers have joined our Team!
Daniela has over
20 years of experience working in field based ecology all over the world, and
has a PhD in Zoology. Much of her
research has focused on Marine Mammals. Daniela also has caretaking experience,
including primates, at various zoos and Nature Centers. She is volunteering on Saturday
afternoons.
Rachel is coming in for the Thursday morning shift. She has spent much of her life caring
for horses, but this is her first experience working with primates. Rachel is currently earning her degree
in biology. Interns Mary and Stephanie report that Daniela and Rachel’s
training is going extremely well and everyone is very pleased to have them at
PPS.
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