Primate Update July 2018

Sustainability at Pacific Primate Sanctuary (PPS) 

All living beings depend on the Earth for their survival, making the preservation of the natural world imperative. Sustainability is defined by the EPA as “the maintenance of conditions that allow for the coexistence of humans and nature, for both present and subsequent generations”. This means living in a way that is not just sustainable now, but that will allow for the continuation of life in the future.

Tragically, so many current practices worldwide do not support sustainability, and we are wiping the planet of so many resources vital to all forms of life.  Primates are considered one of the most severely affected populations, with an estimated 50% of the world’s primate populations at risk of extinction due to unsustainable practices such as habitat destruction and environmental pollution.

New World Primates, like those we care for at PPS, consume a wide variety of fresh fruits and foliage in their native homes.  In order to emulate their natural diet, we provide the monkeys with an assortment of fruits, vegetables and edible flowers and plants.  However, commercial farming techniques are unsustainable, with practices such as slash and burn agriculture, use of pesticides and manufactured fertilizers, and food and water wastage destroying the land.


Produce purchased in the stores often comes from different areas of the world, so it is packaged up, often in non-biodegradable materials, and shipped long distances to reach Maui, utilizing precious fossil fuels.

To reduce our ecological impact, we care for the land, growing our own fruits and vegetables, and tending to numerous plants and trees that can be used to fill the monkey’s outdoor enclosures. Maui’s tropical climate allows us to create fresh produce year-round, and we cultivate over thirty types of fruit and vegetables on site, including bananas, avocados, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, lychee, longan, sapote, lilikoi, and chayote squash. As most rainforest vegetation grows well here, we have cultivated hundreds of trees from seeds to vegetate the habitats for each colony of monkeys. The Sanctuary creates a natural environment for the monkeys, utilizing branches and plants grown on site to furnish the animals’ outdoor enclosures, and surrounding the perimeter with lush jungle plants.

Growing our own produce and plants for the enclosures helps us to have a positive impact the environment. We know that no valuable forests were damaged in the process.  We can rest assured that what we are feeding the animals is organic; better not only for the health of the monkeys, but also resulting in fewer harmful pesticides and insecticides entering the environment, and reducing fossil fuels since it doesn’t need to be shipped in. Avoiding shipping also prevents the depletion of nutrients that occurs in most commercial produce, allowing us to serve the monkeys the most nutritious food possible. Different plants ripen at different times of year, mirroring seasonal changes in food availability experienced by monkeys in the wild. As food items come into season, monkeys are always eager to receive fruits and flowers they have not had since the previous year, preferring these food items to those they have been regularly receiving. This seasonal shift in food availability serves as one of the many ways PPS strives to provide the monkeys with a life as close to “wild” as possible.

The extensive orchard, garden and grounds must be skillfully tended to continue to provide the animals with this ideal environment.  Please help us to continue to provide this care for the monkeys, and maintain our sustainable practices, by making a tax-deductible donation online: http://pacificprimate.org/help.htm 

References:

• Leonard Perry. Why Grow Vegetables?University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil Science. Online
• Heidi Godman. Backyard gardening; grow your own food, improve your health.Harvard Health Letter. Online
• The Extinction Crisis.Biologicaldiversity.org. Online

HAWAIIAN CULTURE and 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 this, and ongoing issues of Primate Update, we explore how the Sanctuary embodies traditional Hawaiian world view, perspectives and practices.

Hahai no ka ua i ka ulula`au
The rain follows after the forest.

Ancient Hawaiians recognized the importance of protecting the land, and understood the delicate balance between the forests, rain and the preservation of the land. The rains are attracted to forest trees. Knowing this, Hawaiian cut down only the trees that were needed for their survival.  They realized that if you destroy the forest, the rains will cease to fall, and the land will become a desert- incapable of growing the plants that were utilized for food, medicine and resources.

“In ancient Hawai‘i, ‘aina(land) was the most revered natural resource. As Hawaiians used the abundant natural resources within their ahupua‘a(ancient land division), they practiced aloha(respect), laulima(cooperation), andmalama (stewardship) which resulted in a desirable pono (balance). This is sound resource management where the interconnectedness of the clouds, the forests, the streams, the fishponds, the sea, and the people is clearly recognized.”
— Dr. Carlos Andrade, Professor of Hawaiian Studies at UH Manoa

Sustainability was woven into every aspect of ancient Hawaiian life, and continues to be an important practice in Hawaii today.  At Pacific Primate Sanctuary, we nurture the land, tending it lovingly to grow fresh produce and to maintain the lush jungle environment.  The soil is cared for, by adding fresh amendments, so it never becomes depleted. Caregivers only take the branches and plants that are needed for the animals’ Enclosures.  Ti plants and Hibiscus bushes are never cut down completely, but instead, harvested in a way that allows them to continue to grow and produce. The plants and the land are respected, and treated with appreciation.  We do not believe these are resources for us to exploit, or abuse, but rather recognize that we are fortunate to be able to share in the Earth’s bounty, and that in doing so, it is our kuleana (responsibility) to tend to the land.

 

MEET the INTERNS

Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s year long Resident Intern Program allows for the continued education of individuals seeking to learn more about New World primate care and husbandry. Interns receive intensive training in a variety of subjects including basic animal care, emergency medical care, and facility management and oversight.

A Hui Ho (until we meet again) Intern Holly

Holly completed her Resident Internship in June, and has moved to Colorado, where she will be going to graduate school. Holly took the responsibility of being a Primary Animal Caregiver seriously and was a committed and skilled Intern.

She is very bright and observant individual, with an excellent memory. These skills allowed Holly to learn new information quickly, and readily incorporate all that she learned into practice. Holly could remember the many small details that come with caring for animals, which made her an effective team leader.

Holly’s Independent Intern Project focused on Behavioral Conditioning, a topic that she had little knowledge of prior to her time at PPS.  She reformatted and edited several extensive documents, making them more applicable to PPS. She also created new documents that will help us to teach future Interns how to become effective trainers.

There are not enough words to Thank Holly for her commitment to the Sanctuary over the last year, and for taking excellent care of the monkeys and their home.  We will miss having her strength and leadership. We will always be grateful for the many valuable contributions she has made to Pacific Primate Sanctuary.

In her farewell letter, Holly Writes:
I first heard of the Internship from one of my college professors. At the time, what was happening in the present was my only concern, such as my coursework and passing my classes. I wasn’t focusing too much on what to do beyond college. However, as my graduation began to draw near, I had to start thinking about what was my next step. The internship came up again as an option for what to do after college. Now that I was coming to the end, I started considering what my options were. I wanted to go to graduate school and get a Master’s degree, but after nearly five years of college, I didn’t want to go right away. Suddenly, the internship was looking very appealing: a year of gaining experience in animal care without the stress of passing classes or maintaining a GPA. After discussing with my family, I knew this was what I wanted to do.

The Interns are truly the backbone of the Sanctuary. Without us here, onsite, every day, the Sanctuary wouldn’t function. Living in the yurts was certainly an experience: listening to geckos chirping, hearing the monkeys every morning, and being with the other Interns. It’s quiet here; occasionally, you’ll hear a car on the road, but other than that, it’s very peaceful. With Interns living onsite, the Sanctuary becomes our lives. The training is in-depth and hands-on. I never felt like I was sitting in a classroom being lectured to, but rather was participating in the lives of the monkeys from the moment I arrived. The training never felt rushed. I was never pushed into a situation I wasn’t ready for, nor did I feel as if I were ever ill-prepared when the time finally came for certain tasks. I was shown to not only observe species behavior, but look at each monkey as an individual with their unique personalities. In the end, I contributed to the Sanctuary by researching behavioral conditioning, and updating old documents and created new ones. Current and future interns have access to up-to-date training techniques and information, as well as a guide for adapting training techniques to suit each individual monkey. While the work was challenging, the end result was that I felt I was truly contributing something valuable to a worthy cause.

I’m glad I took this opportunity. It has given me a chance to see what a career in animal care will be like. I will look towards the future with the knowledge that I have gathered. Not only was I trained as an animal caregiver, but also as a documentarian, skills that are applicable in many fields. As I come to the end of my internship, I find myself reflecting on everything that I’ve learned and experienced. As I leave back for the mainland, I’ll be taking many fond memories back with me, such as when the monkeys “happy chirp” in my presence (and I imitate to the best of my ability), or when Davis and Mariette wouldn’t let me leave their Enclosure because Mariette kept wanting to see what was in my apron pocket, or when Diedre was so eager for training that she ran face-first into the target stick. I’ll never forget the year I lived with monkeys in Hawaii.

Farewell Holly, we miss your presence at PPS,
 and hope to see you again in the future!

 



HOW YOU CAN HELP the MONKEYS at PPS

AmazonSmile
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Pacific Primate Sanctuary every time you shop at Amazon, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to PPS. Go to smile.amazon.com, and select Pacific Primate Sanctuary as your charity, or you can click on the following link:  https://smile.amazon.com/ch/99-0285731

GoodShop
GoodShop is THE go-to place to find all those coupon codes and promo codes on the web for thousands of stores from The Gap, Best Buy, Expedia, Target, Apple and more!  So, don’t miss a chance to save a bit of money, AND, when you shop through Goodshop, a percentage of what you spend is donated to Pacific Primate Sanctuary! 


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 joining the Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s Community, by volunteering your time and skills, please e-mail:  pacificprimatesanctuary@gmail.com

Facebook Fundraisers
Facebook now offers online fundraising opportunities, which allows anyone to create a fundraiser for Pacific Primate Sanctuary. Many people have chosen to do a Birthday Fundraiserand raise funds for charity in honor of their birthday. On your personal Facebook page, click on the Fundraisers link, then select “Raise Money for a Nonprofit Organization”. You can then select Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc.as your charity, and begin raising donations by sharing with your friends and family.
https://www.facebook.com/fundraisers/about/

How to Contribute Directly
We rely on and deeply appreciate your continued partnership. Please make tax-deductible donations to the Sanctuary on our Website: www.pacificprimate.organd 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 monkeys at Pacific Primate Sanctuary
and contribute to the care of theBeings with whom we share the Earth!

 

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Intern Holly: Special Topic
Chimerism

Genetic chimerismoccurs when an organism has cells that are genetically distinct from one another. This organism may have blood cells of differing blood types, or two differently-colored eyes, or they may even have a mix of male and female reproductive organs. In most animals, chimerism develops when multiple fertilized eggs merge together while in utero, creating a single organism with multiple cells that are different from rest of the body’s genetic structure; thus, chimerism is often the result of a zygote absorbing their twin. Chimerism can also occur in plants, but the chimera is often the result of a mutation during cell division, rather than two early-developed organisms merging together.

All species of Callitrichidae, aside from the Goeldi’s marmoset (Callimico goeldii), routinely give birth to fraternal twins. Early in development, the placentas of the twin embryos fuse together. This placental fusion allows the twins to exchange stem cells, specifically germ cells and hematopoietic cells. Germs cells are the cells that will give rise to gametes (ovum and sperm) in reproductive organs, while hematopoietic cells will become blood cells. These mixed hematopoietic cells can be found in blood, bone marrow, and internal organs, which means that every tamarin and marmoset is a composite of cells from multiple individuals: a chimera.

Callitrichids also routinely engage in germline chimerism, a trait that is unique to them specifically due to its regular occurrence, rather than by chance. As mentioned, germ cells will become gametes, the cells that an organism uses to reproduce. During cell exchange through the fused placenta the twins’ germ cells exchange alleles. Alleles are the expressed variants of genes, i.e.: whether an animal will have blue or green eyes. Not only is every tamarin and marmoset a chimera, they also carry reproductive alleles of their fraternal twin, in addition to their own.

One implication of germline chimerism is that a tamarin or marmoset could sire or give birth to offspring that are more genetically related to their twin than to them. Evidence suggests that chimerism is a contributor for the cooperative breeding system found in Callitrichids. In a cooperative breeding system, all members of a family group help care for offspring, not just parents. Personal reproductive fitnessis the number of offspring that an individual bears, while inclusive reproductive fitnessis the number of offspring equivalentsthat an individual raises. The non-reproducing “helpers” in a cooperative breeding system are engaging in inclusive fitness: by taking care of their siblings or nieces/nephews, they are ensuring that their family line lives on, even if they do not reproduce themselves. Due to germline chimerism and the resulting interrelatedness of the family group, it becomes very important for a tamarin or marmoset to help care for their siblings/niece/nephew, because that offspring may actually be more closely related to them than to their biological parents.

Many of the tamarins and marmosets at Pacific Primate Sanctuary come from the same family groups. With the knowledge of chimerism, it becomes evident that the level of interrelatedness is more complicated than a standard family tree diagram would suggest. When attempting to pair a male and female, we have had the most success with pairing two completely unrelated individuals. Not only does this kind of pairing have the most resemblance to wild Callitrichid breeding pairs, but it is possible that tamarins and marmosets may recognize family traits, even in an individual they have never met before, and prefer not to partner with a closely related individual, although, more evidence is needed to support this hypothesis. (Male Callitrichids at PPS have been vasectomized.)

References
-Rutherford, J. N. & Tardif, S. “Mother’s Little Helper? The Placenta and Its Role in Intrauterine Maternal Investment in the Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).” TheSmallest Anthropoids: The Marmoset/Callimico Radiation, edited by Susan M. Ford, Leila M. Porter, & Lesa C. Davis, Springer, 2009, pp. 301-329.

 

Special Topic: Intern Tiffany
Tool use in Capuchins

Capuchins are known to use diverse objects as tools for various purposes. They can become quite skilled in doing so, and actually much of their reputation as “clever” monkeys rests upon the fact that they use tools. An animal uses a tool when it uses an object as a functional extension of its body, such as its mouth or hand, to act on another object or a surface to attain an immediate goal. Tool use can therefore appear in many functional categories of behavior, for example feeding, communication, exploration, etc.

Interestingly, the arboreal lifestyle of capuchins may be thought to limit their opportunities to use tools. In the trees, their hands are more often needed for support, and loose objects that could be used as tools are less available than on the ground. However, capuchins do spend a lot of time on the forest floor as well, as they are able to walk bipedally and carry objects in their hands. In addition, there are aspects of capuchins’ behavior and ecology that support their use of tools in the wild. Capuchins possess the necessary sensory and anatomical characteristics for using objects as tools. They have well-articulated hands with anatomical adaptations that favor the fine manipulation or precise positioning of objects. Capuchins also possess two behavioral characteristics that are particularly relevant to using objects as tools. Firstly, although using a tool is an individual activity, it is acquired more readily in socially supportive contexts, where experts tolerate novices nearby. Capuchins live in social groups and are relatively tolerant of one another. Usually, younger and less proficient individuals observe more experienced conspecifics, who tolerate their presence, and some stealing by the young observers is also allowed. In this sense, the use of tools is a skill that is more easily acquired and transmitted in social groups where individuals learn from one another. Secondly, capuchins generate a great variety of explorative and manipulative behaviors that involve acting with objects and on surfaces. They spontaneously combine objects with substrates and with each other by pounding and rubbing.

Capuchin monkeys feed on many foods that require extraction from substrates, such as nuts, snails, husked fruits, or invertebrates hidden in wood. Because they live in habitats with pronounced seasonal changes in the abundance and varieties of potential foods, their diet shifts accordingly. When fleshy fruits are scarce, capuchins shift their diet to feed on foods that take more effort to find or process, like brazil nuts, palm nuts, or oysters. Sometimes an individual cannot break items by direct pounding or biting, and in such cases, using a tool may be the solution. An example of tool use during feeding has been observed in capuchins who use stones to pound open palm seeds on stone anvils. These seeds are often parasitized by larvae, which capuchins are fond of. They place a single seed on a stone large enough to use as an anvil and use a smaller one as a pounding tool. Holding the pounding tool with two hands, they strike the seed until it cracks open. In general, capuchin monkeys are more likely to use tools to obtain foods when they cannot get them in any other way, and when more easily obtained foods are scarce.

In conclusion, a greater degree of terrestriality and a relative shortage of readily obtainable foods seems to promote the emergence of tool use in capuchins. The most frequently observed instances of tool use in the wild are pounding a stone on a nut that a monkey has placed on a hard surface, like an anvil. At Pacific Primate Sanctuary, white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) Miracle and Prospero never experience shortages of food, and therefore have less need to develop tool use to access food, as their wild counterparts would. However, they do possess the same anatomical and behavioral characteristics as their wild born relatives; they are very dexterous and inquisitive, and they manipulate, explore, and interact with their surroundings. Interestingly, Miracle and Prospero have learned to use objects as tools in different ways, one of the most common behaviors we have seen involves their water spigot.  The spigot is designed so that when pressure is placed on it, water is released, so when the monkeys press their mouth up against it, it lifts up and they drink.  Miracle and Prospero have discovered that if they put small rocks or sticks into their water spigot, it will create a constant flow of water, which they use to drink, clean their hands or food, and soak food to make it soft.

References:

• Fragaszy, Dorothy M., Visalberghi, Elisabetta, Fedigan, Linda M. “The Complete Capuchin – The Biology of the Genus Cebus”. United Kingdom, Cambridge: University Press, 2004.
• Ottoni, E. B., Izar, P. “Capuchin Monkey Tool Use: Overview and Implications”. Evolutionary Anthropology, vol. 17, 2008, pp. 171-178.
• Fernanded, M. E. B. “Tool Use and Predation of Oysters (Crassostrea rhizophorae) by the Tufted Capuchin, Cebus apella paella, in Brackish Water Mangrove Swamp”. Primates, vol. 32, 1992, pp. 529-531.

Special Topic: Intern Olivia
Spider monkeys as seed dispersers

Of all the neotropical primates, spider monkeys are the most specialized consumers of ripe fruits.Spider monkeys eat very quickly and swallow most of their food whole, though there are other species that swallow fruit seeds, spider monkeys are unique in that they hardly chew their food. Thus, they forgo the process of mastication (chewing or destroying the seeds) and the seeds they eat pass through their digestive tracts unscathed. This, along with their large body size and wide-ranging patterns, places them among the most specialized seed dispersers in the animal kingdom.

Spider monkeys’ role in seed dispersal deems them vital to the existence of countless plant species in the Neotropics. In ensuring the survival of such plants, they also support the existence and livelihood of the many other animal species that eat those plants. However, despite their major role in the ecosystem, spider monkeys are not immune to the dangers posed by humans. Like so many others, spider monkeys are at risk, largely due to human hunting and deforestation. Understanding how spider monkeys have come to have such a vital role in the ecosystems they inhabit emphasizes the importance of protecting their species, and therefore preserving the biodiversity of the Neotropics.

Spider monkeys eat a wide variety of fruits, and therefore ingest a wide variety of seeds. A study by Link and Di Fiore (2006) examined the eating habits and subsequent seed dispersal of one population of spider monkeys over the course of a year. In their study, they found that spider monkeys fed on the fruits of at least 152 different plant species, and swallowed seeds from more than 98% of these. These seeds range in size from less than 1mm to over 27mm in diameter. Even among other large-bodied Neotropical primates, the ability to pass seeds that large is seen almost exclusively in spider monkeys. At PPS, the spider monkey’s’ natural role as a seed dispersal is made evident in the foliage of Carlos and Montana’s enclosure. There, you can see a variety of fruit plants that have sprouted as a result of the whole fruits that Carlos and Montana consume, such as tomatoes and papaya.
Another factor that contributes to the spider monkeys’ efficiency in seed dispersal is their large home range. A home range refers the distance that a population covers in any given day. The spider monkey’s large body and use of brachiation (their primary method of locomotion) allow for efficient travel over long distances. They move from tree to tree throughout the day to find ripe fruit; once a given food resource (fruit tree) has been exhausted, they continue on in search of another. Because of this, they are never in one place for long. Therefore, they offer another valuable asset in seed dispersal by depositing the ingested seeds in locations far away from the parent tree.

Clearly spider monkeys play a vital role in the ecosystems that they inhabit. Unfortunately, the survival of their species is being threatened by the effects of human activity. As mentioned above, spider monkeys have large ranging areas and spend much of their time in the upper levels of the forest canopy. Therefore, they use loud vocalizations to stay in contact with other individuals in their group, as well as warn others of potential danger. Their loud vocalizations and large body size, while beneficial in some aspects, also serve as a disadvantage by making them an easy target for the humans who hunt them. Spider monkeys have slow birth rates, which makes their populations especially susceptible to the negative impacts of hunting. In fact, they are often the first Neotropical primates to disappear from an area being impacted by human hunting.

Part of the PPS mission is to raise awareness about the grave effects of deforestation and the illegal entrapment/trade of wild animals. Unless there is a rise in global awareness, and these human practices come to an end, the threat of extinction will only continue to grow. In fact, conservationists report that 60% of the world’s primate species are in danger of extinction, with 75% already in steady decline (Estrada et al., 2017). If not altered, the dangers that humans pose on spider monkeys via hunting and deforestation could lead to the extinction of not only the spider monkey, but also countless other plant and animal species in the Neotropics. Thus, understanding the vital role that spider monkeys play in the environment only emphasizes the importance of protecting their species, and therefore preserving the biodiversity of the ecosystems they inhabit.

Works Cited:

• Dew, J. L.,  “Spider Monkeys as Seed Dispersers”.  Spider Monkeys: Behavior, Ecology, andEvolution of the Genus Ateles. Edited by Christina Campbell. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2008. Print, pp. 155-182. 
• Estrada, Alejandro, et al., “Impending extinction crisis of the World’s Primates: Why Primates Matter.” Science Advances, vol. 3, no. 1, 2017, http://advances.sciencemag.org/conten t/3/1/e1600946. Accessed 6 May 2018.
• Link, Andres, and Di Fiore, Anthony. “Seed Dispersal by Spider Monkeys and Its Importance in the Maintenance of Neotropical Rain-Forest Diversity.” Journal of Tropical Ecology, vol. 22, no. 3, 2006, pp. 235-246, doi:10.1017/S0266467405003081. Accessed 7 May 2018. 

Intern Kaylee: Special Topic
Social Interactions Among Marmosets

At Pacific Primate Sanctuary (PPS) we currently provide refuge for three different species of marmosets: the white-tufted eared marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), the black-tufted eared marmoset (Callithrix penicillata), and Wied’s marmoset (Callithrix kuhlii). All three of these species occur in the scrub forests of Brazil. It has been argued that pure Wied’s marmoset was the original marmoset species occurring in this location, and that the white-tufted eared marmoset and the black-tufted eared marmoset have been introduced. There is now a confused picture of hybrids between these species, as intermediates occur among them in the wild. Knowing that these three species intermingle and can coexist helps us to better understand the animals in our care.

All marmosets, including the thee species we care for, have claws, instead of flat nails, and do not have prehensile tails. Their sizes average between 225g and 453 grams and around 50cm in length (including their 30cm long tail). The average lifespan of these monkeys is 15 years, although many of the marmosets at PPS have lived to be much older. Marmosets are arboreal (live in the trees) and use quadrupedal running, vertical clinging, and leaping from branch to branch for locomotion. Their claws are especially well designed for these methods of locomotion. Marmosets are diurnal (active during the day) and generally settle in for the night around one hour before sunset. Housing the three different species of marmosets together works well because they each have very similar lifestyles and behaviors. We regularly see interspecies communication and have had great success pairing different species of marmosets. All three of the marmoset species utilize the same vocalizations, body language, and facial expressions. We not only observe these monkeys performing the same behaviors on their own, but we also see them interact with each other in different areas of the Sanctuary by calling to each other. Marmosets often perform whirr/trill calls and chirps to other marmosets to help keep track of each other and to alert others when they see a favorite food item, or if they are startled by a bird flying by their Enclosure.

Marmosets are able to form associations with a variety of species, and housing them together can be a form of social enrichment. When animals live in an Enclosure, providing a social, dynamic and varied environment is crucial. PPS can consider housing different marmoset species with each other. There are only two Wied’s marmosets currently living at PPS, and they are not a good match for each other, so without the option of pairing with another species, neither of them would be able to have a partner. We currently care for two mixed-species social pairs at the Sanctuary. One pair includes Davis, a vasectomized male Wied’s marmoset, and Mariette, a female white-tufted eared marmoset. A second pair consists of Otis, a vasectomized, white-tufted eared male, and Dyna, a black-tufted eared marmoset female. The staff at the Sanctuary are also currently working on pairing a vasectomized male white-tufted eared marmoset, Ernesto, with Allegra, a female black-tufted eared marmoset. As with every pairing, regardless of species, there are many steps we take to ensure that the well-being of each individual monkey is considered. Being aware of the different species’ social capabilities, and natural environment, helps PPS to provide “refuge and rehabilitation, creating naturalistic habitats where displaced primates can recover and form social groups”.

References

• Rylands, Anthony B. Marmosets and Tamarins Systematics, Behaviour, and Ecology. Oxford Science Publications: Oxford University Press, 1993.
• Ruivo, Eric Bairrão, editor. EAZA Husbandry Guidelines for Callitrichidae. 2nd ed., Beauval Zoo, 2010.
• “History and Mission.” Pacific Primate Sanctuary, www.pacificprimate.org/history.htm.

We hope you have enjoyed this issue of Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s E-Newsletter. Thank you for your support of our life-giving work. Because of compassionate people, the Sanctuary can continue to provide a place of peace and happiness for primates saved from research laboratories, animal dealers, and tourist attractions. Here they can heal, form social groups, and live free from exploitation.