Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 11, Part 3

PPS INTERNSHIP

Pacific Primate Sanctuary is seeking New World Primate Caregiver/Office Assistant Resident Interns. We would welcome someone with a background in animal husbandry and an interest in animal welfare and conservation, who is a mature team player with respect for others. Qualified Applicants are invited to apply. Please click on the link here for more details, and e-mail us at pps@aloha.net

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Special Topic: Intern Lisa


Spider Monkeys, Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution of the Genus Ateles
Chapter 4: Diets of wild spider monkeys

C.R. Carpenter conducted the first comprehensive field study of wild spider monkey diets back in the 1930’s in Panama. He found that spider monkeys’ diet consist of 90% fruit. Since his studies in the 1930’s other subsequent studies have basically confirmed what Carpenter found out.

Overall, the bulk of their diet consists of fruits-mainly ripe fruits. To compliment the diet they also eat plant parts, such as leaves, flowers, and seeds. Spider monkeys tend to eat the fruit and the seeds whole. Spider monkeys typically eat over the course of the day, usually in the morning and afternoon, with less activity in the midday. After feeding, spider monkeys will usually rest for a long time and tend to defecate large numbers of indigestible seeds from their bowels- this makes them great plant dispersers.

The social organization of spider monkeys is tied closely to their diet. Spider monkeys are part of a large community that splits into smaller groups to travel and feed. This type of social structure is known as a fission-fusion society.

Spider monkeys are well adapted for their diet of fruit. Spider monkeys posses a simple unelongated digestive tract and have a fast gut passage time relative to their body size. This enables them to rapidly ingest larger numbers of fruit and get what they need from these fruits and clear away the indigestible seeds.

-Campbell, Christina J. Spider Monkeys: The Biology, Behavior, and Ecology of the Genus Ateles (Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology). UK. Cambridge University Press. 2008.


Special Topic: Intern Cheryl


The Complete Capuchin. The Biology of the Genus Cebus


Chapter 3: Community Ecology: How Do Capuchins Interact With Their Local Communities and Influence Their Environments?

Most of the protein in Capuchin diets comes from invertebrates, primarily insects and other arthropods like snails. Capuchins are the only species of primate known to specialize in finding and extracting hidden and embedded insects e.g. larvae of beetles. Much of their time is spent finding food that can be easily captured and eaten.

Capuchins are known to switch to alternative foods (as discussed last month) when fruit and insects are scarce. One alternative is vertebrate prey. It so happens that the main nesting periods for parrots and squirrels is during the dry season when fruits and caterpillars are less common for Capuchins. During this time they will take advantage of the availability of eggs and often the birds and squirrels.

 A Capuchin monkey at PPS eats a fig

It is widely believed that Capuchins are subject to predation by animals such as jaguars, pumas, coyotes and raptors. However, monkeys can thwart predation attempts in several ways: they can be cryptic and silent; they can run away from predators; they can give loud alarm calls to warn others and they can actively confront predators.

Although Capuchins don’t commonly consume flowers, they have been known to insert their faces deep into certain flowers to obtain the nectar within. The pollen dust, which then clings to their face, would allow for dispersion and give Capuchins the role of pollinators. They are also known to tap branches and listen to the sounds of embedded insects; they will then break off the branch and lick out the grubs. ‘Tree pruning’ is a sufficiently common activity during foraging that researchers on the ground must be constantly alert to the dangers of falling branches!

Capuchins have been found to live in the same Neotropical forest with many other New World species. Capuchins have been found to co-exist with many others of the same species, something found to be quite rare with other species. This is most likely due to their abilities to exploit many different food sources and habitats.

This genus of monkey preys on both invertebrates and vertebrates and in turn, is preyed upon by a wide variety of carnivores. While their preferred foods are fruit and insects, they also occasionally eat seeds and flowers. At other times Capuchins disperse seeds away from the parent tree, and they carry pollen from one flower to another. It has been argued that Capuchins lower the numbers of certain insects that infest trees. They occasionally take agricultural foods from fields and orchards, leading to conflict with farmers, who may hunt them in retribution. They sometimes forage in mixed species groups, benefiting the other types of monkeys that travel with them. Clearly, Capuchins participate fully in the many forms of competition and cooperation that characterize the dynamics of ecological communities.

Fragaszy, D.M., Visalberghi, E., Fedigan, L.M. (2004) The Complete Capuchin: The Biology of the Genus Cebus. UK. Cambridge University Press


Special Topic: Infant Care: Marmosets and Tamarins

Both marmosets and tamarins provide communal infant care, which includes infant carrying and provisioning. Most species carry their infants for greater than 90% of the time for the first four weeks of its life. The amount of time an infant is carried varies among different species. For example, Callithrix (marmosets) carry and support infants for a shorter period of time than Saguinus (tamarins) do. The differences aren't due to variations in body sizes or growth rates, but because of ranging patterns, which impact energetics and group dynamics.

In many marmoset and tamarin species the mothers aren't the primary source of solid food for the infants. The mothers already expend energy for the infants through lactation, so additional foraging pressures would greatly decrease the mothers' energy. Ranging patterns are key to the varying degrees of communal infant care. With greater foraging distances, more communal effort is given to infant care.

-. Rylands, Anthony B. Marmosets and Tamarins: Systematics, Behaviour, and Ecology.1993: Oxford University Press; Oxford. 220-34.

“I want to realize brotherhood or identity, not merely with the beings called human, but I want to realize identity with all life...”
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)

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 74 primates saved from research laboratories, animal dealers, and smugglers. Here they can heal, form families, and live free from exploitation.

This Blog and its content is copyright of Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc.—
© Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved.
Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following:
you may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only
you may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material
You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 10, Part 1

PPS PRIMATES in the SPOTLIGHT

Meet Lucian:

Lucian was born on October 23, 2003 in a research laboratory. He is a White-tufted Eared Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). The first year and a half of his life was spent in a windowless room with no access to the outside world or green plants. In March 2004, Lucian, along with his parents and siblings came to Pacific Primate Sanctuary. Lucian was soon paired with Olivia, a young female who had been human reared after her mother passed away in childbirth. She had an unusual upbringing, and lacked some normal social skills she would have picked up had her mother survived. Over the years, Lucian and Olivia have formed a close bond and have raised their offspring together. Through this process, Olivia has learned normal marmoset behaviors and communication. Lucian has been given the opportunity to live as every monkey deserves- he spends hours in the sun, running and leaping through the branches and leaves in his home. He became a father, and helped to successfully raise his children. The pair has now been together for almost 6 years; they have formed a family and created natural social bonds.

Unfortunately, Lucian, along with all the other monkeys who arrived with him, has recurring intestinal troubles. Sanctuary Volunteers have spent many hours providing Lucian with special care each time he became lethargic and dehydrated, nursing him gently back to health. We have discovered which foods upset his stomach, and have altered his diet. Finally, last year, our Veterinarian found a medication to combat Lucian’s problem. This medication is wonderful and Lucian’s health has been great, however, he will have to be on it for the rest of his life. Lucian’s mate Olivia, has a heart condition, and is also on lifetime medication.

Your support can supply Lucian and his mate Olivia with these vital medications, as well as providing the materials for much-needed new soft sleeping houses!
Donate Now

NOTABLE NEWS

Sebastian examining yellow ginger

We are heading into winter, and beginning to see more rainy days. This rain has done wonders for the plants around the Sanctuary, and many delightful fruits are growing. The monkeys have been enjoying fresh strawberry guava, passion fruit and jackfruit, just to name a few. Papayas were donated by Down to Earth last month and Gaia and Galatea (twin Saddleback Tamarins) were particularly fond of the fruit, contentedly eating side by side.
Some delicious flowers are also in bloom, including yellow ginger and hibiscus.
The Capuchins were excited when we planted new trees in their enclosures, including Fig trees and Hibiscus bushes. The figs aren’t growing yet, but they were able to suck the sweet nectar from the hibiscus flowers. The Spider Monkeys have been most enthusiastic about the fresh greens they have been given from the garden, including Ibica (a tropical leafy vegetable), kale and Swiss chard!

THE ENCLOSURES IN THE NEW EXTENSION ARE COMPLETE!
We have begun the process of moving the monkeys into their new outdoor homes. Bruno, whose mate recently passed away, was moved into his outdoor enclosure, and has been exploring all of the greenery. Leonardo and Dyna were also moved into the new extension, and are thoroughly enjoying their new space.

Leonardo and Dyna in their new outdoor enclosure

Pacey enjoys his Birthday
 in his new home

We will be celebrating several birthdays this upcoming month! Pacey, a White Tufted-eared Marmoset just turned 6 on September 29th. Lucas, another White Tufted-eared Marmoset will also be turning 6 on October 14th.  Lucian and Olivia will both be having birthdays this month- just one day apart! Lucian turns 7 on October 23, and his mate Olivia will be turning 9 on October 24th.

Please join us in wishing our primate friends a very Happy Birthday!

MEET MORE MONKEYS

Little Bea, a White Tufted-eared Marmoset, sits near a Red Ginger in her portable. She and her housemate Oona will soon be moved to an outdoor enclosure in the new PPS Extension!

Prospero, a Capuchin monkey, examines his fur after grooming with an Etrog, a citron fruit. This grooming behavior is thought to help keep insects away. To see this in action, please watch our video,

“Prospero Enjoys an Etrog” on YouTube

This Blog and its content is copyright of Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc.—

© Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved.

Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following:

you may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only

you may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material

You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 10, Part 3

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Special Topic: Intern Lisa


Spider Monkeys, Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution of the Genus Ateles
Chapter 3: Taxonomic status of spider monkeys in the twenty-first century

Spider monkeys have one of the largest geographical distributions of any Neotropical primate, due to habitat preferences, dietary needs, and their social system. TGus has lead to a variety of species and sub-species, known by multiple names to local cultures. In previous studies of spider monkey taxonomy, pelage (fur) variation was one way of categorizing them. The first study done to determine spider monkey species initially found four species and sixteen subspecies of Ateles relying on pelage differences. Today more studies are being done to find more taxonomic differences focusing on molecular variation and other more in-depth scientific methods.

Here at PPS we have the Ateles geoffroyi, the Black-handed Spider Monkey. This species is found throughout Central America and along the western coast of South America west of the Andes. There are a variety of subspecies of the Ateles geoffroyi throughout this geographical region.

-Campbell, Christina J. Spider Monkeys: The Biology, Behavior, and Ecology of the Genus Ateles (Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology). UK. Cambridge University Press. 2008.

Carlos, a Black-handed Spider Monkey, rescued from a tourist attraction

Special Topic: Intern Cheryl


The Complete Capuchin. The Biology of the Genus Cebus
Chapter 2: Behavioral Ecology: How Do Capuchins Make A Living?

This chapter explores how Capuchins make a living including how they stay safe, what they eat, and variations in behavior over daily activities, night sleeping patterns and seasonal feeding patterns.
Capuchins of all species relish easily accessible fleshy fruits like figs if available, but they will also find ways to obtain food other monkeys don’t use. They seem to specialize in targeting food that ‘fights back’, that is, plants, insects and small invertebrates with strong and elaborate defenses against predators. By varying their diet, Capuchins have the flexibility to switch from readily accessible foods (fruit) to more inaccessible ones when fruit is scarce. It also reduces the chances of overlapping diets with other arboreal primates in the same area (such as Spider monkeys, Squirrel monkeys).

RANGING PATTERNS: There are 4 ways in which Capuchins use their space:
• Relying on insects – use space homogeneously (very close-knit)
• Highly patchy resources (fruit) – use space in shifting irregular patterns depending on fruit sources
• Defendable resources – use space by patrolling boundaries
• Depending on one sleeping site or watering hole – use space by concentrating movement to a core area
Capuchins have been known to use a combination of all of these ways of using their space. Usually troops with more adult males will use a larger area.

DAILY PATTERNS: Capuchins are active during the day; from shortly before dawn to sometime around dusk. The main components to daily activities are: travel, feed/forage, rest and socialize. What a monkey eats constrains how he uses his time and space. Frugivores need to spend much of their time traveling due to the fact that fruit trees tend to be scattered in different patches of forest.
Capuchins obtain their carbohydrates and bulk of their calories from fruit. For proteins they will usually turn to young leaves, seeds or insects. Due to this kind of diet, more time is spent foraging and traveling than socializing and resting.

NIGHTLY SLEEPING PATTERNS: Capuchins are arboreal, which means they sleep up in the trees. Selection of sleeping sites is usually influenced by safety from predators, comfort, stable substrates and a large location that can inhabit an entire group to sleep in. They will often select branches higher up in the tree, that way the branch will vibrate if a predator steps near it. They will also choose trees that are close to others in case they have to jump to another tree should trouble appear.

SEASONAL FEEDING PATTERNS: It has been found that during the rainy season, food is more abundant for Capuchins, whereas in the dry season food is less available. Fruit will generally be eaten more in the rainy season whereas during the dry season insects, bird nestlings and eggs will feature more in their diet.
It has also been found that Capuchins will decrease their traveling range when their watering hole starts to dry up, and turn to non-fruit items within a short traveling distance.
- Fragaszy, D.M., Visalberghi, E., Fedigan, L.M. (2004) The Complete Capuchin: The Biology of the Genus Cebus. UK. Cambridge University Press.

White Faced Capuchin Monkeys at PPS- Miranda and her granddaughter, Viola

Behavioral Specialist, Mary Catherine- Special Topic


Positive Reinforcement Training Techniques

Positive reinforcement training (PRT) is a vital tool for gaining trust and voluntary cooperation when working with captive nonhuman primates. Here at Pacific Primate Sanctuary, efforts are always being made to apply PRT techniques to husbandry procedures in order to reduce stress and enhance the welfare of the monkeys. Here is a quick reference to some of the main PRT techniques used here at PPS:

Bridge (a.k.a. Conditioned Reinforcer) – Clicker training is a popular tool used in dog obedience school. It involves a handheld clicker acting as the conditioned reinforcer of a good behavior, or bridge. The technique is elegantly simple. Initially, you make a click as you present food to the trainee. Over time the click stands for the reward, which is food. Soon the animal, in our case the monkey, hears the click and looks to you for the reward. Now you can use the click to explain to the monkey what behavior you are trying to elicit from them by clicking at the exact moment when the behavior occurs. The monkey associates the click with a reward, so upon hearing the click they know they have done it right instantly, though it may take you a few seconds to actually get the food reward to them. The click acts as a bridge between the desired behavior and the food reward. Essentially, the click says to the animal, “Yes! That’s right! Good job, now come and get your treat.”

Shaping – When teaching a monkey a new behavior, (such as standing on a scale), you must first break it down into small steps, which you then teach in succession and build upon each step. This technique is called shaping. For example, the steps to standing on a scale may be broken down like this: 1) Place the scale in their home cage and reward the monkey (using the bridge followed by a treat). 2) Reward the monkey anytime they approach the scale. 3) Reward when they take any step onto the scale (see how handy the bridge is? The moment a foot steps onto the scale, you click, and the animal knows right then what they did right was place a foot on the scale). 4) Reward when they have all 4 feet on the scale. 5) Finally, reward the monkey for standing still on the scale for a set amount of time. Working patiently over time, these small steps can lead to a great new behavior, which should be fun and mentally stimulating for both the trainer and trainee.

Target – Training an animal to touch a particular object can be very helpful in many areas of captive primate care. Any object can be your target, though ideally it should be something you can hold and/or clip onto the outside of the cage. Using shaping, you can train a monkey to approach and hold the target in order to station them at a particular place in the enclosure. You can also train them to touch the target with different body parts (nose, hand, foot, back), which can be very helpful in examining any injuries without having to capture the animal.

Sometimes when I sit here quietly, an ocean and a continent away, I believe I can hear your monkeys singing. It is a joyful sensation. Thank YOU and all of the volunteers for the wonderful work you do, and for giving us a chance to be a part of it.

— A monthly PPS Supporter

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 74 primates saved from research laboratories, animal dealers, and smugglers. Here they can heal, form families, and live free from exploitation.


This Blog and its content is copyright of Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc.—
© Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved.
Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following:
you may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only
you may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material
You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 9, Part 1

PPS PRIMATES in the SPOTLIGHT

Update on Macaco:

Macaco was born in the wild, but was captured as a baby, taken from his mother— a victim of the pet trade. He was locked up in a small wire cage and put up for sale in a marketplace. Macaco spent the next 9 years living as a pet in Los Angeles with a boy who gave him a home. Eventually, his owner realized that living as a pet was not the best life possible for a monkey. He said: “I decided to send him to Pacific Primate Sanctuary because I love him, and I know he needs to be at the Sanctuary where he can become a monkey.” He made the difficult decision to send Macaco to the Sanctuary because he cared deeply for him, and he knew that Macaco deserved the chance to live with others of his own kind.

Macaco Living in the Green World

Macaco had not seen another monkey since he was a tiny infant. When he arrived at PPS, the monkeys all greeted him, but he was unable to respond to them, and had difficulties moving on the branches in his new home. Over the past year, he has really enjoyed observing the other monkeys and has learned to communicate with them. We have heard him make a growing number of vocalizations. Macaco was recently moved into an outdoor enclosure in the new extension. He is now able to feel the wind in his fur and the sun on his back. Macaco has been contentedly running along the branches and hiding in the foliage of his new home.



"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 (1953)

NOTABLE NEWS

This month we grieve the passing of our beloved Brenda,

a White-tufted Eared Marmoset.

Brenda arrived at Pacific Primate Sanctuary in 1995. She came from a research laboratory when she was just 3 months old along with her brother Brandon. They were sent to PPS at this very young age, without their parents. Normally a marmoset family cares for the offspring until they are sexually mature, from 18-20 months old. These two were like little orphans when they were given refuge here.

Brenda was 2 years old when Bruno arrived from another research facility and the two were paired. Bruno has difficulty sharing his enclosure and food with his new companion but, over time, he learned to be her partner. Brenda spent the next 13 years with Bruno, the two spent countless hours exploring their greenroom together, grooming each other, and soaking up the warmth of the sun. When she had to be taken to the infirmary, Bruno made distress calls.

Brenda passed away on the morning of August 17, 2010. She was with Bruno and had four caregivers close by. Over the last 15 years many caregivers have known and cared for Brenda. She had a gentle disposition, and an inquisitive nature. Her presence at Pacific Primate Sanctuary will be missed, but her spirit lives on in all of our hearts.

Eudora is a Cotton Top Tamarin, who was born at Pacific Primate Sanctuary. She is the daughter of Adam and Nadine. A little over a year ago, Eudora went to a facility on the Big Island to be a companion to a lone male Cotton Top Tamarin. Unfortunately, her mate recently passed away, and so Eudora has come back to PPS. She is now in the extension next to her sister Persephone. We are hoping to pair the two in the near future.

MEET MORE MONKEYS

Sylvan, a White-tufted Eared Marmoset enjoys the sunshine in his new outdoor enclosure!

The small body size and claw-like nails of Marmoset monkeys allow them to cling vertically to trees. Sebastian uses this vantage point to scan for insects.

This Blog and its content is copyright of Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc.—
© Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved.
Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following:
you may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only
you may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material
You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 9, Part 2

WHAT’S HAPPENING at PPS?

We Need Your Help!

Please join with us in our life saving work. Raising funds has become critically important with the huge increase in expenditures! The new extension, monthly utility bills, and facility maintenance are putting extreme financial pressure on the Sanctuary’s limited resources. Every contribution counts and is greatly appreciated!

Rescue Fund

A Rescue Fund will allow us to provide refuge for at risk animals needing to be brought to the Sanctuary immediately. Laboratories and pet owners often have deadlines for placement and may not contribute to the costs involved in getting the animal to Pacific Primate Sanctuary or provide for their housing and care. Your contributions will allow us to reach out to these monkeys and bring them to this safe haven.

Please send your tax-deductible donations to:


Pacific Primate Sanctuary
500-A Haloa Road
Haiku, HI 96708


Or donate on our website, www.pacificprimate.org using PayPal.

PPS PEOPLE in the SPOTLIGHT

Meet Kaitlin:
Kaitlin began volunteering at Pacific Primate Sanctuary at the young age of 15 years old. Throughout her busy high school years, Kaitlin came to PPS every week to care for the monkeys. She was a dedicated volunteer and brightened the sanctuary with her positive demeanor and good nature. After Kaitlin went to college, she returned as a PPS volunteer over the holidays. Kaitlin will soon be graduating from UCSD, but plans to pursue further studies in Primatology.

Kaitlin at her High School Graduation with Sanctuary Volunteers

Kaitlin describes how life changing her volunteer experience at PPS has been:

…I have been thinking about the sanctuary a lot recently. Working alongside the monkeys and volunteers has really shaped me into the person I am today. The memories that I have of the sanctuary are the foundation of a driving force in me to dedicate my life to zoological conservation.
I will be finishing my fourth year of undergrad at the University of San Diego in the fall with a Biological Anthropology major and a Biology minor. This summer I am … getting ready to go on a trip to Indonesia at the beginning of August. In Indonesia, specifically Borneo, I will be volunteering with the Orangutan Foundation International, helping them improve various structures around the sanctuary grounds. I will have a chance to meet Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas and hopefully see how she manages to stay so motivated even when it seems like none of the world's conservation efforts are helping. After my adventure in Borneo, I'm hoping I'll have more resources to begin doing great things with my life! My long-term career goal is to get my Ph.D. in Primatology.


If I had not been given the opportunity to volunteer at the Pacific Primate Sanctuary at the young age of 15, I think I would be on a very different path. The most rewarding work I have ever done was those Sunday shifts with Skip and the interns, making sure all our non human primate friends had the most comfortable life we could give them. And for that I thank you Lucy, for believing in me and allowing me to grow into myself. I still read the talk story minutes every month and think about everyone often. I hope that I can one day return to Maui and the sanctuary!

PPS INTERNSHIP

Meet the newest PPS Intern: Hannah

Pacific Primate Sanctuary is pleased to announce the selection of our newest Resident Intern, Hannah. She will be joining us at the end of September. Hannah has recently graduated from UCSD with a degree Environmental Systems- Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution.

Hannah writes:
I am dedicated to wildlife and the conservation effort. I have a scientific background and the heart to learn more…The Sanctuary will be a great place for me to grow both in character and in knowledge. I would love to join PPS, since I have many common goals with PPS. I would like to work in the field of conservation. Since primates have been greatly impacted by human population growth, they are a great group of animals to help protect.


During the internship, I would like to learn more about the different species of primates and the important roles they play in their natural environment… I want to continue the efforts of many others to protect the natural resources that we have and provide a better place for future generations.

Welcome Hannah, we are excited to have you join us at the end of September!




This Blog and its content is copyright of Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc.—
© Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved.
Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following:
you may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only
you may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material
You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 9, Part 3

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Special Topic: Intern Lisa

Spider Monkeys, Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution of the Genus Ateles

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 1 discusses how Spider monkeys (genus Ateles) have been largely unstudied in the wild, despite the fact that this genus is often seen as the “typical monkey”.  Studying Spider Monkeys in the wild has been difficult due to the fact that they are fast moving, wide ranging, and live high in the canopy.  So often, when being studied, only a few community members can be studied at one time.  However, in the last decade the number of studies on spider monkeys has increased.  Areas of study include Spider Monkey ecology (the study of the relationships between the organism and their environment), behavior, physiology (the functions of an animal’s parts), morphology (the study of the form or shape of an organism) and evolution.

Part 1: Taxonomy, phylogeny, and evolution

Chapter 2 Morphology and evolution of the spider monkey, genus Ateles

Spider monkeys are well suited for life in the upper canopy foraging for ripe fruit. This is seen throughout the spider monkeys skeletal morphology.  Spider monkeys’ bodies are also the closest to a gibbon that has evolved in the Order Primates.  Spider monkeys, like gibbons are brachiators, meaning they use their arms to move from tree branch to branch. 

The general morphology of spider monkeys has enabled them to successfully adapt to their environment.  The skeleton is designed to help suspend and hurl their body weight, which allows them to swing through the trees. Their energy rich diet had allowed them to have modestly enlarged brains.  The brain of the genus Ateles typically weighs over 100 grams.  The dentition (teeth) in the Ateles is functionally suited for a classically frugivore  (fruit eating) diet.  Incisor teeth (which are used to shear food sharply) are well developed. The canines (teeth used to firmly hold food in order to tear apart) differ in male and females. In males the upper canines are long, slender, and re-curved and in females they are slightly shorter, stouter, and less projecting.  Studies are being conducted to understand why there is sexual dimorphism in canine teeth.  Another interesting morphological features of the spider monkey is its missing thumb, or as it is also known the pollex.  The fingers on a spider monkey hand are long and re-curved, almost hook-like, and the limbs tend to be long and spindly.  The arms tend to be about 25% longer than the legs.  Another interesting feature of the spider monkey is its prehensile tail.  The tail is very strong and has a palm-like pad at the end.  The tail acts almost as an extra limb.  All these interesting morphological features have made the genus Ateles a very proficient animal for life high in the rainforest canopy.

-Campbell, Christina J. Spider Monkeys: The Biology, Behavior and Ecology of the Genus Ateles (Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology). UK. Cambridge University Press. 2008

Special Topic: Intern Cheryl

The Complete Capuchin. The Biology of the Genus Cebus

Chapter 1:  Taxonomy, Distribution and Conversation: Where and What Are They and How Did They Get There?

In this chapter, the authors describe the appearance of the Genus Cebus as well as the areas occupied by Capuchins and distribution of the species. The chapter also discusses the main causes of decreasing wild populations of Capuchins in Central and South America.

TAXONOMY: Capuchins are robustly built due to their arboreal (tree-dwelling) lifestyle and have arms and legs of nearly equal length. They also possess semi-prehensile tails that enable them to grasp with their tail like they do with their hands and feet. Although mainly arboreal, Capuchins are known to venture down to the ground to forage for food. They have large canine teeth and thickly enameled molars that are well adapted to crushing seeds and tearing open hard fruits.

Capuchins are known for the distinctive caps on their crowns that appear in various colors and shapes in different species. For example, White-fronted Capuchins (Cebus albifrons) have a brown cap, whereas the White-faced Capuchin (Cebus capucinus) typically has a black cap. The White-faced Capuchin is the only species with jet-black fur on their body, limbs and tail. White fur occurs around the black cap on the crown, as well as on the throat, shoulders, chest and upper arms. The facial skin is pink and the amount of white fur on the face tends to vary depending on sex, class and age.

Capuchins can find their closest phylogenetic affinities (evolutionary relations) in Squirrel monkeys. It has been suggested that Capuchins branched off from a common Cebid ancestor around 22-23 million years ago; compare that to marmosets and tamarins that are younger at 13-16 million years. More fossil samples are needed however to clarify the picture of Cebid evolution.

DISTRIBUTION:  Capuchins have one of the widest distributions of any New World primate genus. Most species are found throughout South America from extreme northwestern Ecuador to parts of Argentina and Paraguay. Many species of Cebus will inhabit similar areas in South America. The White-faced Capuchin has been noted mostly in Ecuador, western Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and the Honduras and is the only species of Capuchin to occupy Central America starting in the Honduras, while still maintaining areas in South America along the Colombian Andes.

Capuchins tend to occupy humid and dry tropical forests, swamp forests and seasonally flooded forests as well as dry deciduous forests where rainfall is absent for 5-6 months a year. They are mostly seen in the middle layers of the forest, but use all levels from the canopy to the under storey and sometimes the ground to drink, forage and travel.

The numerous amounts of data collected from different habitat types suggests that they exhibit the ability to explore almost any type of Neotropical forest to the fullest extent.

CONSERVATION STATUS: It is well known that most species of Cebus are under threat from more than one source. Three main causes are listed here:

1) Many populations across central and South America are affected by humans altering the natural environment for economic development, in particular by the outright destruction of their forests. This is considered to be the most significant factor in the decline of wild populations of Capuchins. It is important to state that as tropical forests decline, so will the number of animals that depend on them.

2) Hunting is a highly significant stress on Capuchin populations. Monkeys are hunted for food as well as body parts (for ornamental purposes and medicinal). In South America as well as Africa, monkeys are often used for ‘bush meat’. Hunters would usually aim for the larger monkeys such as Spider monkeys, Woolley monkeys and Howler monkeys. Infant monkeys are usually raised as pets

3) Live capture for export and trade on the pet market, for biomedical research or for exhibition in zoos is also another big threat to Capuchin populations. Fortunately, this factor has been greatly reduced in recent years due to imposed legislations and introductions of animal welfare and changing missions in zoos. The want to protect and preserve has now overtaken the need to exhibit.

This chapter has educated the reader in identifying species of Cebus, identified where to find them and what in this world is threatening their existence. There is some argument when defining habitat usage for the genus, as many populations over large parts of South America have not been documented.

- Fragaszy, D.M., Visalberghi, E., Fedigan, L.M. (2004) The Complete Capuchin: The Biology of the Genus Cebus. UK. Cambridge University Press.

Special Topic: Intern Dana

Rylands Marmosets and Tamarins, Systematics, Behavior and Ecology

CHAPTER 8: Flexibility and Co-Operation as Unifying Themes in Saguinus Social Organization and Behavior

For most of the history of primatology, New World Monkeys have been considered poor candidates for behavioral research. It was believed that there was little to be gained from studying them, since they are farther removed from humans evolutionarily than Old World Monkeys and apes. The Callitrichidae have been the least studied, and it wasn’t until the late 1980’s when researchers began investigating the complexities of marmoset and tamarin mating systems. It was around the same time that the field of Primatology began investigating the issue of predation as an important pressure on primate social behavior. In this article, Caine discusses how the natural behavior of tamarins has been and continues to be shaped largely by predation.

The author argues that there are two fundamental principles in understanding tamarin social behavior. These are 1) The fundamental elements of tamarin social life are co-operation, tolerance, and adaptability, and 2) that predation is among the most important selection pressure influencing social behavior and group structure.

        

Until recently, monogamy was assumed to be the center of tamarin social organization. However, research has shown that they are more polyandrous (one female, multi-male) than originally assumed. In captivity, Cotton Top Tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) pairs act aggressively to new conspecifics (other animals of the same species) during intruder studies; interestingly, it is only the males who act with aggression, and only to other males.

        

A trait that characterizes all Saguinus species to date is co-operation, especially regarding infant care. All adult members carry infants, usually from within a few hours or a few days of birth. The infants go back to their mothers mainly to nurse. Adults also have been seen sharing food with infants. When traveling and foraging, group members move in a cohesive manner and even produce monitoring calls as they move through the jungle. Aggression is rarely observed in free-ranging groups. In captivity, adults are far more likely to tolerate each other when feeding; food calls are given when even a small amount of desirable food is found.

        

Tamarins are also very co-operative with respect to anti-predator behavior. Predators include birds, snakes, tayras (large weasels), and ocelots. Avoidance, alarm calling, and sometimes mobbing are their primary tactics. To avoid predators at night, tamarins retire before dusk, have increased vigilance, and carefully select sleeping sights. Caine argues that it is the tamarins’ vigilance for predators, rather than their response to them, that promotes cooperative social behavior. Individuals can spend more time eating and less time looking around when responsibility for vigilance is shared. In conclusion, predation pressures seem to play the most critical role in determining tamarin group size and social interactions.

-Rylands, A.B. Marmosets and Tamarins. Systematics, Behavior, and Ecology. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1993.

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 74 primates saved from research laboratories, animal dealers, and smugglers.  Here they can heal, form families, and live free from exploitation.

“We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are.” — J.K. Rowling, author (b. 1965)

This Blog and its content is copyright of Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc.—
© Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved.
Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following:
you may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only
you may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material
You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 8, Part 3

PPS INTERNSHIP

Welcome to the two newest PPS Interns: Cheryl and Lisa

Cheryl arrived on Monday, July 25th from England. She has recently received a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Animal Studies. She is passionate about working with primates, and is intrigued with primate intelligence and social structures. Cheryl spent time exploring Chimpanzee grooming habits within zoos for her undergraduate dissertation. In 2007 Cheryl visited South Africa for 6 weeks as a volunteer for a Vervet monkey sanctuary. During this time she worked hands on with orphaned babies as well as helping to maintain the other 100 or so monkeys. Cheryl writes: “I have a great passion for primates and would love to expand the experience I’ve already gained and would like the chance to work with different species in a place like yours that is completely dedicated to the well-being of the monkeys.


I feel that my previous experience gained from volunteer work with monkeys will be useful as I have proven that I am able to adapt to new environments by myself, take on responsibilities that are key to the monkeys well-being, and show that I am able and willing to undertake every aspect of keeping monkeys and ensuring that they are healthy and happy… I want to thank you very much for offering me this position and giving me such an amazing opportunity to further my experience working with primates…I am really looking forward to learning as much as I can from people who have already gained expertise… and aim to contribute as much as I can to give to the primates the best life that they deserve…“


Lisa arrived on Tuesday, July 27th. She has a B.S. in Biology and has worked with 52 exotic big cats in a sanctuary environment, provided care for a variety of birds at the Dallas Zoo, and assisted with avian rehabilitation at the Texas State Aquarium. Lisa writes: “No matter how I write it, it cannot express how excited I am or thankful to be joining you all at PPS…


You never know when the opportunity of a lifetime will appear, but I’m so thankful it did. I found out about the Pacific Primate Sanctuary through one of my email groups. When I visited the website, I knew that it would be the right place for me, and after visiting with Lucy & Erin on the phone I was even surer. I think what drew me most to PPS was the simple message ‘Where the suffering stops and the healing begins!’

Welcome Lisa and Cheryl, we are so happy to have you

as part of the Sanctuary Family!

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Special Topic- Dana


Ryland’s Marmosets and Tamarins
Systematics, Behavior and Ecology


Chapter 7: The Social Organization of Marmosets: A Critical Evaluation of Recent Concepts

In this chapter, the authors Rothe and Darms discuss marmoset group composition, size, and mating habits. Understanding migration rates, and the age and sex of individuals is the key to deciphering the marmoset mating system.

In wild populations, immigration (monkeys joining the group) and emigration (monkeys leaving the group) seem to affect the structure of a society more than births and deaths. Immigrants are usually only welcome when it benefits all the family members, or they’ll be met with hostility. In the wild, friendly contacts between individuals of different social units do occur, but rather infrequently. Potential immigrants are only welcomed if they would benefit all family members. However, in captivity, marmoset groups/families are usually unwilling to integrate adult strangers whatsoever; therefore, births and deaths are what determine group size and composition.

In captivity, marmoset groups regulate their group size and composition by evictions of subadult/adult members. The probability of being expelled, especially by same-sexed siblings, increases with family size and with the increasing age of the social unit. The authors expect that in the wild, most juveniles will settle on natal or adjacent home ranges. Because of this, marmosets have a keen understanding of who is kin, so that inbreeding can be avoided.

White-tufted Eared Marmoset Couple

In any marmoset group, reproduction is the privilege of the alpha pair. The pair-bond is formed after the establishment of the group hierarchy. There have been about 160 Callithrichid societies observed for long periods of time, and monogamy was observed almost 100% of the time. One of the main advantages of monogamy is considered to be male investment in offspring. Co-operation, especially involving infant care, is an important aspect of callitrichid social organization. Having helpers raise offspring can be explained by 1) gaining rearing experience 2) the contribution to inclusive fitness via kin selection (by helping raise your sibling’s offspring you are ensuring that your family genes are passed on) 3) belated benefits through reciprocal altruism (i.e. I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine). The authors conclude that helping to rear infants is probably a matter of seniority and/or hierarchical status.

-Rylands, A.B. Marmosets and Tamarins. Systematics, Behavior, and Ecology. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1993.

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 74 primates saved from research laboratories, animal dealers, and smugglers. Here they can heal, form families, and live free from exploitation.



May all sentient beings be endowed with happiness.
May they all be separated from suffering and its causes.
May they be endowed with joy, free from suffering.
May they abide in equanimity, free from attraction and aversion.

— The Tibetan Book of the Dead


This Blog and its content is copyright of Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc.—
© Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved.
Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following:
you may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only
you may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material
You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 8, Part 2

WHAT’S HAPPENING at PPS?

Building the New PPS Extension

PPS Volunteers Move Plants into the Extension

The building stage of the PPS Extension is complete, and Steven has hooked up the power and water. Each enclosure has been filled with plants, branches, hammocks and nest boxes by a wonderful team of vounteers! We have moved 6 monkeys into their new enclosures, and they are really enjoying their new home. It was so wonderful to see them exploring the plants and branches, and experiencing the sun and wind. Unfortunately, many of the enclosures will need to have work done on the door closures before we can move in the rest of the monkeys. Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who helped make this possible. We had a great crew of volunteers all working together to outfit the new enclosures, and it was amazing to see the positive spirit and teamwork that went into the process.




We Need Your Help!

Raising funds is becoming critically important with the huge increase in expenditures! The new extension, monthly utility bills, and facility maintenance are putting extreme financial pressure on the Sanctuary’s limited resources. Every contribution counts and is greatly appreciated.


Rescue Fund

A Rescue Fund will allow us to provide refuge for at risk animals needing to be brought to the Sanctuary immediately. Laboratories and pet owners often have deadlines for placement and may not contribute to the costs involved in getting the animal to Pacific Primate Sanctuary or provide for their housing and care. Your contributions will allow us to reach out to these monkeys and bring them to our safe haven.

Please send your tax-deductible donations to:


Pacific Primate Sanctuary
500-A Haloa Road
Haiku, HI 96708


Or donate on our website, www.pacificprimate.org using PayPal.
Thank you for joining us in this life-saving work!

PPS PEOPLE in the SPOTLIGHT

Farewell Volunteer Torsten
Torsten has been volunteering at Pacific Primate Sanctuary for the last year. He has recently graduated from High School, and will soon be heading off to college. Torsten has been a wonderful addition to the Sanctuary, and will be greatly missed. We hope he will continue to volunteer at the Sanctuary during his Winter and Summer breaks from college… and beyond.

Torsten writes:
"The Year of The Monkeys"

During the summer of 2009, I pondered about what new activity would stimulate my satiated mind in the absence of schooling. Then I remembered my older sister's encouraging response to discovering the Pacific Primate Sanctuary website and how incredible it would be to work with the animals. What began as an augmentation to cure summer boredom, evolved and flourished into a life changing experience.


The moment I first walked through the doors of the facility, I became aware that this place demanded a lot of respect. It almost discouraged me at first to be overwhelmed with the responsibility that was about to be placed in my hands. Being held accountable for 70 intelligent primates was pretty daunting, yet exciting at the same time. It took a little while to balance these polar emotions. Through the completion of several shifts under the very helpful and expert guidance of the interns Ali and Robin, however, I developed my confidence as a fully functional volunteer.


…I was able to take a step back and really observe the primates with an understanding of their unique situation, which humbled me…. Their behavior is so much like our own that it forced me to empathize with them more so than other animals. I'll never forget the first time Viola grasped my hand; it gave me chills down my back. Then I soon realized that this (Sanctuary living) really is the only way for their lives to be preserved safely, especially considering their background in laboratories and private ownership…

Torsten's Hanuman T-Shirt Design

Knowing all this, I decided that I should contribute more to the sanctuary than just giving my time. Being a senior student at King Kekaulike High School, I was required to complete a senior project which included a research paper, product, and presentation all on a chosen topic. My work at the Pacific Primate Sanctuary provided the perfect foundation to build off of. I chose non-human primate testing as my research paper and presentation topic, and the sale of my original "Monkey T-shirts" as my product. Through my efforts I was able to raise $100 to donate to the sanctuary. The sanctuary essentially gave me all the necessary tools and information to complete that project and graduate from high school successfully.

I have gained so much knowledge and appreciation for these animals’ behavior, physiology, and psyche that I would never have acquired by reading some textbook. The Sanctuary is not only a safe haven for primates; it is a place where memories, friends, and experience are gained. The gratification one gets through working with the animals and helping to perpetuate their lives is worth it in of its self. I can think of nothing that would have been as rewarding as volunteering my time at the Pacific Primate Sanctuary this last year, and I look forward to helping out in the future in anyway I can.



This Blog and its content is copyright of Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc.—
© Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved.
Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following:
you may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only
you may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material
You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 8, Part 1

PPS PRIMATES in the SPOTLIGHT

Meet Brenda:

At nearly 16 years old, Brenda is one of the oldest marmosets currently living at Pacific Primate Sanctuary. She is a White-tufted Eared Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) who was born on December 9, 1994 at a research laboratory. Fortunately, she came to live at Pacific Primate Sanctuary at the young age of 3 ½ months old.

Two years later, in 1997, Bruno was given refuge at the Sanctuary from another research laboratory. The two were paired, but Bruno must have been housed alone in the laboratory since he had difficulty being with another monkey initially. With patience and a little behavioral conditioning from the caregivers, Bruno soon learned to share his food and accept his new companion. These two have been happily paired ever since. They have spent many years exploring their outdoor environment, and have often been seen enjoying the sunshine together.

Recently, Brenda has begun to slow down, and she and Bruno have been moved into an enclosure in our infirmary for specialized care. Here, she is receiving extra food and warmth, along with individual attention from the healing hands of PPS Volunteers.

NOTABLE NEWS

Persephone Explores her Green World

It has been a very exciting month here at Pacific Primate Sanctuary. We have welcomed two Interns, and the monkeys are getting to know their new full time caregivers. Seven monkeys who were living indoors have now been moved into outdoor enclosures with the completion of the PPS Extension! Macaco, Persephone, Indiana, Nico, Sylvan, Armando and Pacey are thoroughly enjoying their new outdoor habitats. Armando, a Cotton-Top Tamarin, was most excited with the plants in and has been chewing and jumping on the fronds of his palm tree. Pacey, a White-tufted Eared Marmoset, once lived in a house as a pet, and can now be seen exploring his new enclosure, feeling the wind in his fur.

Sylvan in his New Outdoor Enclosure

Macaco, another ex-pet, has been discovering the delights of living in the green world! We have already seen an increase in his appetite, and many caregivers have noticed that he seems to be calmer as well. Nico and Indiana have been successfully paired in the new Extension! These two seem to be getting along wonderfully, and are exploring their new home together. We have seen many grooming sessions in the sunshine already, and look forward to many more. Sylvan, who spent the first two years of his life in dark, cramped quarters at a pet shop, has been stretching his legs as he jumps around his new home.Persephone, who has been living indoors for the last year since leaving her family group, seems very excited to be back out of doors. It has been wonderful to watch each monkey examine his or her new surroundings and bask in the sunlight.

MEET MORE MONKEYS

Miracle, a Capuchin Monkey, enjoys a quiet afternoon in her outdoor enclosure

Guido, a Black-tufted Eared Marmoset takes advantage of a branch in his enclosure to get a nice stretch.

Young Viola works diligently to extract the sweet juices from a piece of sugarcane.

This Blog and its content is copyright of Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc.—

© Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved.

Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following:

you may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only

you may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material

You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.