Primate Update 2-15

Support for Animal Rights and Welfare on the rise in Europe!
 
Since 2009 there has been growing support for animal rights throughout Europe. 
In 2010, the European Union approved legislation on the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes.  The overarching goal of the directive was to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals used in research. One very important aspect of the legislation is the development and implementation of alternative methods of testing.
 
All 28 of the European Union Member states were required to pass laws in compliance with the new legislation by the end of 2013.  The Italian Parliament approved several new restrictions on the use of animals in research, testing, and teaching that actually went beyond that which was required by the European Union.  The new laws in Italy included a ban on breeding dogs, cats and primates for experimentation.  Additionally, there was a total ban on testing alcohol, tobacco or recreational drugs on animals. 

At the end of 2014, an undercover investigation by animal rights groups exposed devastating footage about what happens to primates at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Germany.  This footage resulted in a police raid at the institute, in early 2015, because of suspected animal welfare violations. During the raid, documents and records were seized. To find out more about the undercover investigation, and to see the footage, visit the following link.  Be advised that this footage is graphic and difficult to watch.  ”Truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.”    -Flannery O'Connor
http://www.buav.org/undercover-investigations/a-living-nightmare
 
In January of this year, Parliament in France voted in favor of a new classification for pets, and other animals living in captivity. In 1804, animals in France were classified as “movable property”, essentially giving animals the same rights and protection as a piece of furniture.  This archaic ruling has been in place for over 200 years, but finally, after much work and petitioning from Animal Right’s groups, animals in France have been reclassified as “living, sentient beings”!  This is a huge step, which will allow for better protection of animals and harsher punishment for anyone who abuses them.  Similar laws have been in place through the European Union since 2009 under the Lisbon Treaty.

Steve Cooke, a University Teacher in Theory and Animal Rights at the University of Sheffield, wrote a wonderful article encouraging a “cosmopolitan” approach to animal treatment.  The idea being that people act with humanity towards all other sentient beings.  The “cosmopolitan” mindset encourages openness and acceptance of difference.

“What matters when thinking about fundamental rights is not who we are, where we are from, or what nation or species we are born into, but that we can feel. If a being’s existence matters to it, then it ought to matter to us.”  Please read his article at the following link:
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2015/01/05/europe-should-embrace-a-cosmopolitan-approach-to-animal-rights/#Author
 
It is truly inspiring and uplifting to see the positive changes in Europe to protect our fellow beings. As consciousness rises, we hope that the legislation and enforcement regulating the treatment of animals will continue to improve in the United States and globally.

At Pacific Primate Sanctuary, we practice the principle that all beings deserve to be treated with compassion 

 Sources
http://www.nature.com/news/german-police-raid-animal-research-lab-1.16813
http://www.pawsforthenews.tv/1news/1featured-news/pets-classed-under-french-civil-law-are-to-be-given-a-new-legal-status-as-sentient-beings-all-countries-need-to-follow/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/animal-emotions/201502/animals-in-france-what-really-happened-about-sentience
http://www.nature.com/news/animal-rights-activists-ramp-up-campaigns-in-europe-1.16637
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1308/S00057/italy-bans-all-animal-testing-of-recreational-drugs.htm


NOBEL LAUREATE J. M. COETZEE BACKS A NEW REPORT WHICH DESCRIBES ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS AS MORALLY ‘UNTHINKABLE’
“More than a hundred and fifty academics, intellectuals, and writers, including Nobel Laureate J. M. Coetzee, have backed a new report calling for the de-normalisation of animal experimentation.  Titled ‘Normalising the Unthinkable’, the report is the result of a working party of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics… The report finds that ‘The deliberate and routine abuse of innocent, sentient animals involving harm, pain, suffering, stressful confinement, manipulation, trade, and death should be unthinkable. Yet animal experimentation is just that: the ‘normalisation of the unthinkable’.  ‘It is estimated that 115.3 million animals are used in experiments worldwide per annum. In terms of harm, pain, suffering, and death, this constitutes one of the major moral issues of our time.’
 Comprised of 20 leading ethicists and scientists, the working party concluded that animal experiments are both morally and scientifically flawed. The report of more than 50,000 words is probably the most comprehensive critique of animal experiments ever published.”
 
-NEWS RELEASE from the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics,
3/26/15.  The full report can be found here: <http://www.oxfordanimalethics.com/wpcms/wpcontent/uploads/Normalising-the-Unthinkable-Report.pdf>.

HAWAIIAN VALUES

 
The Hawaiian ancestors adhered to a set of values that guided their daily lives. These beliefs and principles have been passed on, through the generations, and are still an important part of traditional Hawaiian society today.  In the ongoing issues of Primate Update, we explore how the Sanctuary embodies traditional Hawaiian perspectives and practices.
Kōkua is the act of being helpful- providing relief by assisting others. To lend support whereby one assumes the same sense of responsibility as the receiver of the assistance toward completing a task or activity.  Kōkua means to extend loving, sacrificial help to others for their benefit, not for personal gain.
Kōkua is one of the founding principles of Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary is an entirely volunteer based organization; each individual that cares for the animals and the facility does so purely to be of service to the animals, without personal gain or reward.  Everyday at PPS, every action is done in the spirit of Kōkua. Volunteers care for the monkeys with compassion, prepare their diets and clean their enclosures with smiles on their faces, and prune and rake their enclosures with happy hearts.  This selfless service creates a sacred place for the monkeys and provides them with an environment where they can truly heal and find peace.
  

 

PRAISE for PACIFIC PRIMATE SANCTUARY

 
We recently received a note from Dr. Delaney, long time supporter, Advisory Board member, and consulting veterinarian for Pacific Primate Sanctuary. After reading our most recent Volunteer Newsletter, she writes:
“I continue to be so impressed with your newsletter, and all the intensive record keeping you do on all the monkeys. You (and all "staff") at PPS do an incredible job. Thank you for letting me part of this.”
 
Dr. Delaney has had over 25 years of experience as a foremost exotic animal veterinarian.  In 2003 she was awarded the Exotic DVM Of The Year Award, and in 2009 she received the Oxbow Exotic Mammal Health Award.  We are so fortunate to have her assistance and acknowledgement!The PPS Community is appreciative of the contributions of all of the compassionate supporters who donate and volunteer to help keep our good work going.  Your assistance and encouragement are truly uplifting and give us courage, and inspiration every day.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP the MONKEYS at PPS

 
Donating to Pacific Primate Sanctuary can be as simple as doing an Internet search!  Visit GoodSearch.com and designate Pacific Primate Sanctuary as your charity of choice, and get started using this philanthropic program.  Each time you do a search using GoodSearch, a small contribution will be made to PPS!  Larger donations are made to PPS when you order from one of the many participating online stores, using GoodShop.
 
GoodShop
Use GoodShop.com for all your gifts, shopping, travel, etc. After designating Pacific Primate Sanctuary as your nonprofit of choice, you can shop at more than 900 top online retailers and a significant percentage of your purchases will automatically be donated to the Sanctuary at no cost to you! For example: if you shop on eBay using Goodshop.com, 25-35% of eBay revenue will be donated to PPS! 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.
 
Give the Gift of Your Service and Volunteer Your Time
We are currently in need of more local volunteers! We need Animal Caregivers, 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 pps@pacificprimate.org
 
Donate an Item From the PPS Wish List
You can contribute to the monkeys by donating much needed items, including:
- commercial power washer                     - power saw
- heavy-duty weed eater                           - construction supplies                                    
- gardening supplies & equipment            - baby blankets
- pet carriers                                             - push lawnmower
 
 Please contact us at pps@pacificprimate.org if you have an item you’d like to donate!
 
How to Contribute Directly
We deeply appreciate your continued partnership. Please 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

“Malama ‘Ola the Monkeys” and help us provide food, medicine and supplies for the 50 monkeys at Pacific Primate Sanctuary and contribute to the care of the Beings with whom we share the Earth.

PPS INTERNSHIP

 
Intern in the Spotlight
 
Kia is currently the Senior Primary Animal Caregiver at Pacific Primate Sanctuary.  She arrived in May 2014. Prior to being selected as a PPS Intern, Kia completed a degree in Wildlife Biology at the University of Montana.  She had extensive experience caring for a variety of animals at the California Wildlife Center, as well as the Missoula Humane Society. 

Kia’s skills and expertise have been great assets to the Sanctuary. Her observation skills are excellent, and she has grown to have a deep understanding of each of the 50 monkeys she cares for.  She has proven to be a highly responsible and committed caregiver. She provides excellent leadership, is efficient and focused, and takes pride in ensuring that all duties are fulfilled and all the necessary weekly and monthly tasks are completed.
 
Kia is especially skilled in medical care and provides expert training to new caregivers. She extends her support with guidance and tips when they are learning new protocol and procedures in the Emergency Care Module. 
 
One of Kia’s goals when she came to PPS, was to “make a positive contribution”, and she has certainly done that.  We are so grateful to have Kia as a vital part of the PPS community!

The PPS Resident Internship Would Not Be Possible Without The Support Of Our Altruistic Donors. Funding for this essential program is needed in order to provide housing, utilities, and supplies for our 2015 Resident Interns.

To find out how you can contribute to Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s Resident Internship Program, please email us at: pps@pacificprimate.org or
donate now at: http://pacificprimate.org/help.htm

CONTINUING EDUCATION
 

Special Topic: Intern Kia
The Complete Capuchin - The Biology of the Genus Cebus
“Behavioral ecology: how do capuchins make a living?”
 
Capuchins are well known for their diverse diet, and for trying to utilize almost anything remotely edible, but most of their diet is made up of fruits and insects. A study conducted by Hladik et al. (1971) on Barro Colorado Island in Panama found that capuchin diet consisted of 14.4% protein, 26.3% carbohydrate/sugars, 15.8% fat, 7.6% cellulose and 36% minerals and insoluble sugars. 
Another study, conducted by Terborg (1983), found that capuchins were more likely to eat fruit with specific features.  Capuchins are able to access extremely hard fruits because they can bite them open with their powerful mandibles and molars after pounding them against braches and rocks. Capuchins also prefer large orange, yellow, brown or green fruits with a husk. Recent research indicates that male capuchins, unlike howler monkeys, do not have the trichomatic color vision that would allow them to discriminate red fruit against green foliage background. Terborg (1983) found that the size and height of the trees was also important in determining if a fruit would be included in a monkey’s diet, however capuchins are very flexible in their use of canopy height and tree size.
 
Capuchins prefer to obtain their protein from arthropods (insects, spiders, and crustaceans) and vertebrae prey, rather than from readily available sources which are used by other primates. In a study conducted by Janson and Boinski (1992) they found capuchins did not rely on mobile insect prey and had a greater reliance on hidden or well protected insects. Capuchins commonly forage actively and destructively, using their hands and teeth, often simultaneously, to pull, to bite and smash open potential food items. This type of foraging behavior is called “combinational” because it combines an object with a substrate.   The capuchins at PPS frequently use their large teeth, strong jaws, and hands to manipulate foods items.  They are able to open and eat nuts with very hard shells, and particularly enjoy chewing on tough sugar cane stalks to extract the juice.   

 
Special Topic: Intern Kenzie
Spider Monkeys: Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution of the Genus Ateles.
“Communication in Spider Monkeys”
        
Wild spider monkey groups have fluid grouping and association patterns, with subgroups separated by great distances throughout the day.  Long distance vocalizations help to overcome spatial separation, and may be one of the only ways that they can contact and locate fellow group members and maintain their social relationships.
 
An example of a long distance vocalization is the whinny, which we witness both Carlos and Montana utilizing frequently PPS.  In a study by Klein, wild spider monkeys were observed making the whinny vocalization when at least one member from a subgroup is first able to directly see a member from another subgroup. 

The exchange of the whinny is often reciprocal between the individuals in the joining subgroups.  Klein also noted that the exchange of the whinny was also observed to indicate the availability of food and to inform others about the individual’s identity. 

In all primate societies, specific communication signals, such as a whinny, will often have multiple functions. However, recently, it has been speculated that the main functions of the whinny is simply to maintain contact between individuals in different subgroups when visual contact is lost.
 

 

Special Topic:  Intern Amanda
Marmosets and Tamarins: Systematics, Behaviour, and Ecology. 
“Flexibility and co-operation as unifying themes in Saguinus social organization and behavior: the role of predation pressures. Nancy G Caine”
 
 
Adaptability, cooperation, tolerance, and predation are key defining elements that shape tamarin social structure.  Caine has few studies to site for captive tamarins, and even fewer field studies. She explains that most studies assumed tamarins to be monogamous, but that in captivity there were instances of polyandry.  There were also instances in the wild of group compositions fluctuating frequently, with both males and females migrating.
 
Studies have shown that there are generally more males in a given group than females, and that there is only one reproductive female within each group. This is thought to promote more family stability and lessen mother-daughter competition. The role of males in infant care points to cooperative breeding rather than a traditional monogamous model, also. The variations that have been observed point to a variable breeding system rather than a strictly monogamous system. The variations observed have included monogamous, polygynous, or polyandrous. Depending on social and ecological pressures, tamarin behavior can vary quite drastically. This behavioral variation has been noted, not only in groups, but also within individuals.

Infant care is the clearest form of cooperation exhibited by tamarins. Many members of the group will take an active role in carrying and feeding infants. Aggression is not an especially common characteristic; Caine sites a study looking at 176 group-hours, which showed no injurious aggression.
 
Tamarin’s cooperation extends to vigilance against predators. In a group each individual scans frequently for potential threats. They have alarm calls that vary depending on the type of threat approaching (whether it be aerial or terrestrial), allowing them to alert other members of their group when there is danger.

 

 
 
Special Topic:  Intern Katie
Marmosets and Tamarins: Systematics, Behavior, and Ecology
“Systematics”
 
Marmoset and Tamarin species are widely distributed throughout the Amazon rainforest, and can be found in a variety of different regions.  Pacific Primate Sanctuary is home to several different species of marmosets and tamarins, including white-tufted eared marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), Weid’s marmosets (Callithrix kuhlii), black-tufted eared marmosets (Callithrix penicillata), saddleback tamarins (Saguinus fusciollis), and cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus). 
 
Many of the species at Pacific Primate Sanctuary, are native to humid tropical forests, which makes the climate at PPS ideal for their rehabilitation.  Black-tufted eared marmosets are endemic to Brazil, and are capable of surviving in very degraded habitats, but are declining in many parts of their range. Wied’s marmosets are endemic to the Atlantic costal forest of Brazil but are threatened by wide spread forest destruction. Saddleback tamarins are endemic to the Brazillian Amazon. Cotton-top tamarins are endemic to northern Columbia and are critically endangered.
 
According to IUCNredlist.org, cotton-top tamarins have decreased in population by an estimated eighty percent in the past three generations.
 
In the early seventies, approximately twenty thousand to thirty thousand cotton-top tamarins were exported for use in biomedical laboratories, resulting in the devastation of their population in the wild. 
 
 

 

 
 
“Humanitarian principles do not just mean protecting the human, they also mean acting with humanity towards other sentient beings.”
 
                                                       —Steve Cooke
University Teacher in Theory and Animal Rights at the University of Sheffield.
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
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 50 primates saved from research laboratories, animal dealers, and tourist attractions. Here they can heal, form social groups, and live free from exploitation.