One of the diseases contributing to destruction of our planet has been termed SPECIESISM- the belief that our species is superior to all other life forms. Like racism and sexism, speciesism is a precursor to the exploitation and abuse of our fellow beings.200 years ago, Americans would have thought you were absurd if you advocated for the end of slavery. 150 years ago, they would have laughed at you for suggesting that women should have the right to vote. 75 years ago, they would have loudly objected to the idea of African Americans receiving equal rights under the law. They laugh at us now for suggesting that animal slavery be ended. Someday, they won't be laughing. —Gary Smith
Our volunteers care for the monkeys with selfless service and deep awareness, with honor and respect, a response to the abuse, denigration, and exploitation they have suffered. The monkeys are safe here. THEIR individual lives are valued. This represents the profound shift in consciousness, serving members of other species, as opposed to using them for biomedical research, for amusement, for income.
Unspeakable cruelties continue to be inflicted upon other species in the name of science, entertainment, financial profit, as if living beings are unconscious and don't feel pain, as if people don't feel guilt. If we witness honestly and see truly, we are sick to the heart, to the soul. And we grieve silently as a culture for all these deaths and suffering. Slowly and together individuals begin to speak. It rises up to the surface, at first, one voice, then two, and four and hundreds so we can hear ourselves, at last, and find the words to admit the wrongs. Soon we realize that together we can act in good conscience, in wisdom to heal the world.
Please see Marla Stormwolf Patty’s heartfelt description of Speciesism on the PPS Website: http://www.pacificprimate.org/deep.htm
Link to Visual Depictions of Speciesism: http://www.pacificprimate.org/speciesism%20powerpoint/Speciesism.htm
WHAT’S HAPPENING at PPS
New Social Pairs
WAYS YOU CAN HELP the MONKEYS at PPS
Pacific Primate Sanctuary is a small community, made up of about 15 volunteers, doing a big job. We spend very little on fund-raising and administration. We grow most of the fruits and vegetables to feed the monkeys, and the plants to enhance their habitats and enrich their lives. Local businesses give us discounts on goods and services, and our veterinarians donate much of their time and expertise.
Your donations go directly to caring for the animals.
The monkeys depend upon the support of compassionate people for their survival. Please help the Sanctuary protect the lives of these threatened beings and preserve their species.
With your generous donation, we become a powerful force for Life.
Following are ways that you can become a partner in our life-saving work.
Gift Contributions
Gift Contributions Certificates are a unique and meaningful gift for birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions or just because! Gift Recipients will receive a beautiful Contribution Certificate showing you have made a donation in their name, along with information about PPS. This thoughtful and significant gift helps to feed and care for threatened, endangered and distressed primates. Please see our website for details:
http://www.pacificprimate.org/help.htm
Donating to Pacific Primate Sanctuary can be as simple as an Internet search!
Visit GoodSearch.com and designate Pacific Primate Sanctuary as your charity of choice, and get started using this wonderful program. Each time you do a search using GoodSearch, a small contribution will be made to PPS!
GoodShop
Use GoodShop.com for all your online shopping. After designating Pacific Primate Sanctuary as your nonprofit of choice, you can shop at more than 900 top online retailers and a substantial percentage of your purchases will automatically be donated to the Sanctuary! GoodShop also provides many valuable coupons to use towards your purchases. When you select a store, you will automatically be redirected to a coupon page for that store.
Spread the Word
One great way for you to support the monkeys at Pacific Primate Sanctuary is by sharing information about our refuge with others. Pass this E-Newsletter on to your family and friends and encourage them to “Like” us on Facebook— http://www.facebook.com/PacificPrimateSanctuary
Volunteer Your Time
We are currently in need of more local volunteers! We need Animal Caregivers, Support Staff, Handy people, and Gardeners/Landscapers. Retirees are welcome. If you live on Maui and are interested in becoming one of Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s Angels, by volunteering your time and skills, please e-mail us at pps@aloha.net
Mobile Donations
Donating to Pacific Primate Sanctuary just got even easier with our new mobile giving page! Click on the following link on your mobile device, and you can quickly and effortlessly make a contribution to our cause. https://www.paypal-donations.com/pp-charity/web.us/charity_m.jsp?id=41132
Fund a Special Project
Interested in donating to a specific aspect of our work? Pacific Primate Sanctuary is currently raising money to fund our Internship Program, build more Jungle Walkways, purchase Alternative Energy Systems, and we are always in need of funds for General Operations.
Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s Wish List
You can contribute to the monkeys by donating much needed items, including:
-commercial power washer -high quality microscope
- heavy-duty weed eater -gram staining supplies
-gardening supplies & equipment -sewing machine
-small handheld vacuum -construction tools
Please contact us at pps@aloha.net if you have an item you wish to donate!
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
500-A Haloa Road
Haiku, HI 96708
With your support, you make everything we do possible!
PPS INTERNSHIP
Welcome Intern Rachel
Our
newest Intern, Rachel, arrived on January 13, 2013, and has made wonderful progress in her training! She has shown an eagerness and determination to learn. With the expert instruction of Primary Animal Caregiver, Intern Edie, and Erin, PPS Operations manager, Rachel has already graduated from her AM and PM Shift protocol and Emergency Care procedures training.She will now begin the third module of her internship, mastering the skills necessary for Colony Management, which will allow her to make recommendations for new social groupings and primate housing layout plans.
Rachel has also started learning about Sanctuary Management, which includes: overseeing the weekly and monthly tasks, training new Volunteers, keeping detailed records and reporting on the daily status of the primates, making updates and revisions to PPS Manuals, creating new protocol and procedure documents.
Rachel is focused, thorough, and competent, and has an outstanding, positive attitude. We are very pleased to have Intern Rachel on Team PPS and look forward to facilitating her growth in becoming a Primary Animal Caregiver.
Farewell Intern Mary
Intern Mary completed her Internship in January. She has been a remarkable Primary Animal Caregiver and an asset to the Sanctuary team. Although Mary will be greatly missed, her presence will always be felt in the loving-kindness she has shown the animals, through the documents she has created and the knowledge she has passed on in her training of Intern Edie and PPS Volunteers.Mary Writes:
My experience here at PPS has been extremely valuable and rewarding. I will never forget my first shift at the Sanctuary and getting to meet all of the monkeys for the first time, I never thought I would be able to identify every individual monkey. Being able to see the monkeys everyday allowed me see both the physical differences between each individual as well as their distinct personalities.
I have made so many great memories here…I have gained so much from being able to interact and care for these monkeys; it has truly been a privilege.
Thank you to all of the monkeys for teaching me so much and making every day extraordinary. Thank you Erin and Lucy for giving me this opportunity and for providing the monkeys with such an amazing home. Thank you to all past and present Interns and Volunteers.
Your passion and selfless dedication to the care of the monkeys has been inspirational and I have learned so much from every person I have had the pleasure of working with. I know I am leaving the Sanctuary in caring and capable hands and I cannot wait to come back and visit very soon!
Edie, Mary, Lucy and Erin at Mary’s final Volunteer Talk Story Meeting
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Intern Edie: Special Topic- Scent Marking in Callitrichids
Scent marking is a method of olfactory (smell) communication commonly utilized among many mammalian species. During scent marking the animal uses scent glands, urine or feces to deposit an odorous substance containing pheromones (2). These pheromones communicate information about the species, the sex and age of the individual, information about the social status, colony or group membership of the individual, reproductive or maternal state or state of stress of the individual as well as animal’s immune condition (2). Scent marking in mammals has been broken down into three primary functions. These three functions include: marking related to the use of resources in a home range or for the defense of a territory, marking related to social status, and marking related to reproduction (2). Chemical cues can serve multiple functions simultaneously because pheromones released during scent marking can communicate such diverse information in one signal. Because of this, the functions are not exclusive and the identities of the sender and receiver and their relationship determines the meaning of the chemical signal (2).
Scent marking is an important means of communication in the Callitrichid family. Callitrichids have the most elaborately developed scent marking behaviors and scent glands among the anthropoid (monkeys and apes) primates (2), and different Callitrichid species have species’ specific scents (1). In cotton top tamarins there is sexual dimorphism with the females having larger scent glands and exhibit marking behavior to a greater degree (1). Callitrichids have skin glands in the midchest and circumgenital region (1) and utilize these glands in various types of behavior sequences to communicate. The forms of exhibited scent marking include anogenital marking (around the anus and genitals), suprapubic marking (above the pubic area), sternal marking (chest area), ventral rubbing (entire abdominal area) and muzzle rubbing (facial).
Captive studies indicate scent marking in Callitrichids is utilized for marking sleeping and feeding locations, and carries information about the individual’s species, sub-species, gender, social status, reproductive and ovulation timing and for marking territorial ranges (3). The use of scent marking is important between tamarin and marmoset males and females. Males can distinguish between cycling and non-cycling females by their scent marking (2). Lazaro-Perea et al. observed scent marking from dominant females used to suppress ovulation in subordinate females in saddleback tamarins, cotton top tamarins and common marmosets. The information conveyed in scent marking can play a role in mate selection, reducing reproductive competition and maintain group membership stability (3). Though scent marking is utilized to mark territorial range, Lazaro-Perea et al. notes that in data collected scent marks were not found to be concentrated at territory peripheries and there was not an association between marking frequency and territory defense. There was no evidence that markings kept intruders away and is believed to have more to do with something called scent matching. Scent matching has been described as the process by which an individual memorizes scents as it enters a territory. The individual then matches he scent with other monkeys encountered to determine if the encountered individual is the territory “owner.” When the scents are matched the intruder knows to retreat (2). In captive studies scent marking has been observed to mark sleeping sites and nest boxes. This location occurrence has not been observed in wild studies. It is believed this is due to the fact that scent marking of sleeping sites in wild settings could provide cues for predators.
In terms of scent marking frequency, Lazaro-Perea et al. found scent-marking occurrence increased during rainy periods and there was no difference in the rate of occurrence of scent marking between adult males and females. It was also found that the frequency of scent marking was not related to sexual dominance; in fact it was observed that reproductively subordinate females marked more frequently than reproductively dominant females. (2)
The study conducted by Lazaro-Perea et al. provided 606 hours of observation on common marmoset behavioral sequences that included scent marking. The results showed that 13.6% of the 1,247 scent marking instances were associated with gum feeding. All of the scent marking associated with gum feeding was circumgenital and 72% of the instances were preceded by gouging (2). The most common pattern of scent marking was circumgenital, seen in 96.2% of the sent marking occurrences. Suprapubic marking was seen in 3.8%, scent marking was paired with urinating in 2% and was accompanied by muzzle rubbing in 3.2% of the instances observed (2). Gouging and sniffing the scent-marking site was frequently observed before the monkeys marked.
Freida, A White Tufted Ear Marmoset, Scent Marking Her Walkway
Callitrichid scent marking
- Anogenital/ Circumgenital: also referred to as sit rubbing or anal marking. Typically this is the most common for marmosets. The anogenital scent mark occurs in a sitting position, while the monkey rubs the anogenital region in a circular fashion along the surface of an object. During anogenital marking gland secretions might also include urine, genital discharge and fecal residues. (Belcher et al.)
- Suprapubic marking: also referred to as “pull rubbing” rubbing the suprapubic pad against the substrate to be marked by pulling the body with its arms or pushing with its legs while both legs straddle the surface they are marking.
- Sternal marking: sternal gland rubbing of the chest against the substrate to be marked. The monkey can exhibit this behavior while laying fat on the surface or have its stomach and rear elevated while its sternum is pressed against the item. The monkey can also exhibit this behavior while standing on its hind legs if the item they are marking is located above them.
- Ventral rubbing: Involves rubbing the entire ventral side of the body against the surface, no one single gland is involved.
- Muzzle rubbing: Common among Callitrichids, this behavior is typically exhibited after eating and/or drinking and is believed to hold a cleaning function. Muzzle rubbing can be accompanied by sneezing and frequently seen before, during or after anogenital or suprapubic scent marking.
(1) Belcher, A., Epple, G., Koderling, I., Smith III, A.B. (1988).
Volatile Components of scent material from Cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus o. oedipus): A chemical and behavioral study. Journal of Chemical Ecology, Vol. 14, No. 5. Retrieved December 17, 2012 from
http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2FBF01020141
(2) Lazaro-Perea, C., Snowdon, C.T., & Fa tima Arruda, M. (1999).
Scent-marking behavior in wild groups of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Behav Ecol Sociobiol, 46, 313-324. Retrieved December 19, 2012, from http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs002650050625
(3) Washabaugh, K., Snowdon, C.T. @Wiley-Liss, Inc. (1998). Chemical communication of reproductive status in female Cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus). American Journal of Primatology, Vol. 45, Issue. 4, 337–349. Retrieved December 17, 2012, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/%28SICI%291098-2345%281998%2945:4%3C337::AID-AJP2%3E3.0.CO;2-X/abstract
Special Topic: Intern Rachel
Marmosets and Tamarins: The social organization of marmosets, Rothe and Darms
The majority of research on marmoset behavior and breeding, from both field studies and studies of captive populations, have shown that long-lasting and non-restrictive breeding relationships are between only two members of a marmoset family. Other members of the group may display mating behaviors with the dominant pair, but reproduction is generally limited to the dominant pair. This is a fairly unique system in primates, with family groups cooperatively raising infants from the one breeding pair of individuals.
One of the defining social behaviors of common marmosets is their system of cooperative breeding and infant care. The main breeding adults in the group depend on the cooperation of their adult siblings and offspring to care for their new infants to ensure their survival. This requires the behavioral (chasing, biting, open-mouth threats, etc.) and physiological (pheromones, etc.) reproductive suppression of lower-ranking females and behavioral reproductive suppression of lower-ranking males in the group by the breeding pair, a phenomenon that has been well studied among captive marmosets. Rather than leaving the group, finding a breeding partner, and forming a new group, subordinate marmosets that are sexually mature and could otherwise mate stay usually within the family unit. This strategy can be beneficial under certain ecological conditions. For example, where marmosets live in extremely high population densities, leaving may not be possible because of lack of available territory and hostile encounters with other marmoset groups in the area or the dangers of ranging alone. Staying within the group, at least for a while, to help raise their nieces and nephews or siblings may be the best choice for their survival. And because these helpers are likely related to the dominant female, it is within their interest to ensure the survival of her offspring because they are also related to them.
This phenomenon of a fairly stable, dominant pair may explain the success here at the Sanctuary of pairing two individuals. They each become the dominant pair in their territory, and if breeding was a regular occurrence, most of the monkeys would have family groups consisting of this main pairing and their offspring and other related individuals. What this also means is that some hostility can develop between pairs in different enclosures via the visual contact they have with one another. When monkeys are paired, their placement in an enclosure is carefully considered and tested with surrounding monkeys who they can see and smell, to avoid any stress or anxiety associated with territoriality.
-Rylands, A.B. Marmosets and Tamarins. Systematics, Behavior, and Ecology. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1993.
We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognize it. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace. ~Albert Schweitzer
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 60 primates saved from research laboratories, animal dealers, and tourist attractions. Here they can heal, form social groups, and live free from exploitation.
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