Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 4, Issue 6, Part 2

How YOU CAN Help the monkeys

Volunteer Your Time

We are currently in need of more local volunteers! We need Animal Caregivers, Handy people, and Gardeners/Landscapers. Retirees are welcome. If you live on Maui and are interested in becoming one of Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s Angels, by volunteering your time and skills, please e-mail us at pps@aloha.net

Spread the Word

One of the easiest ways for you to support the monkeys at Pacific Primate Sanctuary is by sharing information about our refuge with others.  Pass this E-Newsletter on to your family and friends and encourage them to “Like” us on Facebook— http://www.facebook.com/PacificPrimateSanctuary. 

Looking for a worthwhile gift? You can make a donation in honor of a friend or family member and we will send them a beautiful Contribution Certificate to commemorate your gift. Just send your donation, along with the name and contact information for the person you wish to receive the certificate.  Contribution Certificates make wonderful gifts for any special occasion.

The support of compassionate people is what keeps our good work going. Please choose this meaningful gift so that we can continue to protect and conserve the beings with whom we share the Earth.

Donating to Pacific Primate Sanctuary can be as simple as doing an Internet search, or shopping online- two things that you are probably already doing!

Visit GoodSearch.com and designate Pacific Primate Sanctuary as your charity of choice and get started using this wonderful program.  Each time you do a search using GoodSearch, or shop online using GoodShop, a contribution will be made to PPS!

How to Donate Directly

We deeply appreciate your contributions to the monkeys. You and your family and friends, can make tax-deductible donations on our Website: www.pacificprimate.org and on FaceBook, using PayPal, or by sending a check to:

Pacific Primate Sanctuary

500-A Haloa Road

 Haiku, HI 96708

With your support, you make everything we do possible!

PPS Internship

Farewell Intern Linda

Intern Linda has completed her Internship and is now off to Vet School.  Her presence here at the Sanctuary has such been a blessing.  Each day, she brought joy into the Sanctuary (to both the monkeys and other Volunteers) with her positive attitude and bright smile.  Linda has an openness that is truly rare. She has the ability to see many different points of view and share her perspective with others, as well as a willingness to explore and implement new ideas that are presented to her.  This capability makes Linda a remarkable caregiver, because she is able to adjust and adapt easily in any situation.  During her internship, Linda has honed her observational skills, and has gotten to know each monkey intimately.  She can easily identify every individual, and is able to tell when an animal is getting sick long before the situation becomes critical.  She has created new Sanctuary protocol, made major revisions to the Current list of Primates with Descriptions, Detailed Descriptions of the Primates at PPS the Quick Reference Guide to the Primates, and has passed her knowledge on to Interns Annabel and Mary as well.  Her contributions will remain with us and be built upon in the future.  Linda has endeared herself to all of us, and will be greatly missed. She will always be a part of the Sanctuary Family.

Farewell Linda, we wish you all the best in your endeavors, and know that you will succeed in all that you do. Your light shines brightly, and you have the power to make a positive difference in this world!

Linda Writes:

Before I arrived at PPS, my goals for the internship were to gain experience, meet others, and to challenge myself. Now after almost 10 months I can be confident in saying that I’ve achieved all my goals. I’ve gained experience working with the most amazing monkeys! From feeding and cleaning to customized care in the infirmary to bringing monkeys back to good health; these are experiences that will stay with me for a lifetime. I’ve met people that have become lifetime friends. At the sanctuary we’ve laughed, cried, and have shared countless memories together….

Team PPS at Linda’s farewell:

 Erin, Mary, Linda, Annabel & Lucy

Mahalo (thank you) to monkeys: for showing me that it is so much more valuable to give then to receive. You’ve shown me the appreciation for life and that the little things in life are what matters most. I’ve seen juveniles become adults and have watched the passing of life right in my very arms....  All of you will always be a part of who I am.

            

Mahalo, for giving me this opportunity to be here at PPS…. Thank you for all that you do for the monkeys. The monkeys have a beautiful home here at PPS and are very happy…

Welcome Intern Stephanie 

We have happily welcomed Stephanie as our newest PPS Intern! Stephanie is being trained in all the aspects of New World primate care by Interns Annabel and Mary and COO Erin. They are sharing their experience, expertise, and teaching her everything they know.

During this first Training Module, Stephanie is learning how to prepare the monkeys diets, administer medications, clean, prune, and outfit the enclosures, and maintain the Sanctuary facility.  With her extraordinary observational skills, she is already able to identify many of the monkeys. Stephanie has already mastered food preparation and dispensing the appropriate medications. It is a joy to watch as she becomes proficient in each task- gaining the skills she needs to one day, perhaps, become certified as a Primary Animal Caregiver.

When she learned of her acceptance as a PPS Intern, Stephanie wrote:

I am honored to accept your offer to join the Pacific Primate Sanctuary as a Resident Intern from June 2012 to June 2013.

My love for primates and my belief that they should all have somewhere to feel safe are my main motivations for joining the sanctuary. I hope that by the end of my year as an intern I will have gained experience in caregiving, knowledge about New World primates, as well as see the individual personalities of all the primates at the sanctuary. I am truly looking forward to working among others who have a dedication to the well being of animals.

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. 4, Issue 6, Part 3

CONTINUING EDUCATION 

 Special Topic: Intern Mary 
Spider Monkeys: Demography and group composition of Ateles 

The distribution of spider monkeys ranges from Central to South America. The size, density, and composition of spider monkey groups differ greatly throughout this range and throughout the Ateles species. Eighteen groups, of four different Ateles species, were observed in a study and showed a wide variety of group sizes. The size of these groups ranged from fifteen to fifty-six individuals with a varying numbers of females to males, infants, adults, and juveniles.

 These drastic variations are caused by several factors. Accidental injuries, such as falling out of a tree, predation, and aggression by conspecifics all play a role. However, the main factor that creates variation among Ateles species is habitat. Habitat disturbance, such as deforestation, impacts that habitat’s carrying capacity. If a habitat cannot support over fifty spider monkeys in one area it makes sense that the size of a spider monkey groups found in that area is going to be smaller.

Brothers Carlos and Montana are 

very content as an all male subgroup!

Black-handed spider monkeys, Ateles geoffroyi, the species here at Pacific Primate Sanctuary have been shown to form medium sized groups, with an occasional larger group. When larger groups are formed there are typically more females in the group than males and it is very common to see subgroups made up entirely of adult males. A geoffroyi groups typically consist of more juveniles and infants than groups of other spider monkey species. The reason for this is not clear but one main cause may be due to the fragmentation of the forest where this species is located in Central America. Fragmented forests cause predator communities to be more widely distributed, which means that not as many predators are found together in one area of forest. This gives the spider monkeys a better chance of avoiding predators, and in turn, increases the survival of infants and juveniles. Since younger monkeys are more vulnerable, they are usually the first animals taken by predators. It is important that many young of this species survive, as Black-handed Spider monkeys are currently listed as an Endangered Species. 

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


Special Topic: Intern Annabel:
Defining and Identifying Bacteria 

The monkeys at PPS occasionally develop bacterial infections that need to be treated with a course of antibiotics. Different antibiotics are used to treat different types of bacteria and infections. It is important to know which type of antibiotics to use when treating the monkeys in order to ensure they have a speedy recovery, we can determine this best by understanding the different forms of bacteria.

Definition of Bacteria 
Bacteria are microscopic single-celled organisms. They possess a prokaryotic type of cell structure, which means that their cells are non–compartmentalized, and their DNA (usually circular) can be found throughout the cytoplasm rather then within a membrane bound nucleus. They reproduce through fission (splitting) or by forming spores. Bacteria are present in most habitats on Earth, growing in soil, acidic hot springs, radioactive waste, water, and deep in the Earth’s crust, as well as in organic matter and the live bodies of plants and animals. There are typically 40 million bacterial cells in a gram of soil and a million bacterial cells in a milliliter of fresh water. There are approximately five nonillion (5 followed by 30 zeros!) bacteria on Earth, forming a biomass that exceeds that of all plants and animals.

Bacteria are vital in recycling nutrients, with many steps in the nutrient cycle depending on these organisms. The vast majority of the bacteria in the body are rendered harmless by the protective effects of the immune system, and a few are beneficial. However, a few species of bacteria are pathogenic and cause infectious diseases, including cholera, syphilis, anthrax, leprosy, and bubonic plague. The most common fatal bacterial diseases are respiratory infections, with tuberculosis alone killing about 2 million people a year, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. In developed countries, antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections and in agriculture, so antibiotic resistance is becoming common. In industry, bacteria are important in sewage treatment and the breakdown of oil spills, the production of cheese and yogurt through fermentation, the recovery of gold, palladium, copper and other metals in the mining sector as well as in biotechnology, and the manufacture of antibiotics and other chemicals.

 Differences in Bacteria
Bacteria may be classified based on their shape. Different antibiotics are be used to treat different shaped bacteria.
 The different bacteria shapes are:
➢ Spherical (cocci)
➢ Rod-like (bacilli)
➢ Spiral (spirochetes)
➢ Comma Shaped (vibrios)

Bacteria can also be classified as either gram positive or gram negative, aerobic or anaerobic, autotrophic or heterotrophic.

 Aerobic bacteria use oxygen for metabolism. Oxygen can actually be rather toxic, and for a cell to be able to use molecular oxygen, it must be able to manufacture specific enzymes that detoxify oxygen waste products. Anaerobic bacteria are able to live without oxygen, they either do not have the enzymes required to detoxify oxygen waste, or are not able to make enough of these enzymes to be able to live at normal levels of atmospheric oxygen.

Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria are defined based on how the bacteria reacts to a gram stain. If it takes the initial stain it will be purple in color and will be considered gram positive. If it does not take the initial stain, it will be pink in color and will be considered gram negative. The difference is in the outer casing of the bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria have a thick layer of peptidoglycan (a sugar protein shell) that the stain can penetrate. Gram-negative bacteria have an outer membrane covering a thin layer of peptidoglycan on the outside. The outer membrane prevents the initial stain from penetrating.

Most autotrophic bacteria can synthesize their food from substances like hydrogen sulphide. This process is called chemosynthesis and involves the use of chemical substances for the production of energy. Heterotrophic bacteria, in contrast, cannot synthesize their own energy and must consume organic matter for energy. These include decomposing bacteria, or other groups of bacteria that may be symbiotic or parasitic in nature.

By understanding, and being able to classify bacteria types, we are one step closer to knowing how best to treat any infections that may occur. Next month, we will explore the different types of antibiotics, and what they treat. 

References
http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Bacteria
http://tami-port.suite101.com/difference-between-aerobic--anaerobic-bacteria-a132294
Wikipedia
http://www.bioconlabs.com/autoheterobac.html
Antibiotics, Todar, 2000


Special Topic: Intern Linda 
 Marmosets and Tamarins Chapter 12: Habitats, Feeding Ecology, and Home Range Size in the Genus Callithrix 

 Here at the sanctuary we have three different species of the genus Callithrix. They are white-tufted eared marmosets (C. jacchus), black-tufted eared marmosets(C. penicillata), and Weid’s marmosets (C. kuhlii). In the wild they all occupy different niches, but exhibit similarity in their diets.

White-tufted eared marmosets (C. jacchus) live in the riverine (located on or inhabiting the banks of a river) forests of Northeast Brazil and North Atlantic coast. Black tufted eared marmosets (C. penicillata) live in a more seasonal environment, in forest patches and savanna forests of central Brazil. Weid’s marmsoets (C. Kuhlii) live in the Atlantic forest regions of Bahia (east Brazil). 


A white-tufted eared marmoset 

eating a piece of fruit

 The feeding ecology of Calithrix allows for them to have quite small home ranges compared to other New World primates. Being gummivores (gum/exudate eaters) provides them with plenty of food at nearby trees. Marmosets have specialized teeth designed for gouging into trees, which draws the gums to the surface. A single tree can provide food for many individuals. There is not much fruit in the diet of white-tufted eared marmosets or black-tufted eared marmosets in wild populations. However when they do eat fruit, they use edge and secondary forest depending on fruit types and fruiting patterns. When faced with shortages of fruit, Callithrix monkeys have the ability to exploit gums and forage for insects and other animal prey.

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

 I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.    -Albert Schweitzer, philosopher, physician, musician, Nobel laureate


 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 70 primates saved from research laboratories, animal dealers, and tourist attractions. 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.

Monkey Foraging Video

 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. 4, Issue 5, Part 1

PPS PRIMATES in the SPOTLIGHT 

Neptune 

Every 8 years, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) assesses the population trends of species. Sadly, for most animals, the numbers are decreasing faster than they can be counted. The majority of primate species are already classified as Vulnerable, and the danger of their total annihilation is fast becoming a reality.

 In 2008, Cotton top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus), who are native to Columbia, went from being listed as Endangered to Critically Endangered, which means they are facing the highest risk of extinction in the wild. This species has lost over 80% of its population in just the last 18 years! Their native habitat is being cleared for farmland, leaving their original range fragmented and down to less than 25% of its previous size.

 One of the biggest causes of the drastic decline is the use of cotton top tamarins, as well as other primates, in biomedical research- 30,000 individuals were taken from their native forests in the 1960’s for this inhumane industry. Despite the tenuous status of this species, it is shocking to know that many individuals are still being used in research. “50 animals die in U.S. Labs every minute.” (Michael Budkie, S.A.E.N) 

Neptune is a cotton top tamarin whose parents, Echo and Apollo, were rescued from a research laboratory. When they arrived at Pacific Primate Sanctuary they were terrified and wounded, both physically and mentally. We could see the extent of their suffering in their aberrant behavior and the deep emptiness in their eyes. At the Sanctuary, they were finally given the opportunity to heal their bodies and their minds. Being liberated from exploitation and abuse is only the beginning, recovering from the slavery within can take many generations. With the birth and normal rearing of Neptune, seven years later, we knew their rehabilitation was successful. They were slowly reclaiming their birthright.

Neptune has spent the last 9 years living in an outdoor enclosure with his parents. He has learned how to be a functioning member of a family- sleeping close together for warmth, eating from the same food bowls in harmony, alarm calling to alert the group of potential danger, scent marking the home territory, and tenderly grooming one another.

Neptune and Leticia exploring their enclosure

Neptune has now been paired with Leticia and these unifying behaviors have allowed him to become a remarkable partner. They immediately formed a close bond, and spend countless hours exploring the plants and branches in their enclosure together. If he becomes a father one day, his children will join the “free generation” of monkeys at PPS, who never will have to endure pain and suffering at human hands. Creating his own flourishing family will allow Neptune to live a full life and give us renewed hope for the future of his species.

 Your support can help us prevent the extinction of this unique and precious species. Donate now at: http://www.pacificprimate.org/help-donate.htm

SANCTUARY NEWS 

 Celebration! 
All beings on this planet are sacred, and each individual life is truly a miracle to rejoice in. Here at Pacific Primate Sanctuary we show our appreciation for every single monkey by celebrating his/her birthday. Volunteers mark the birthdays on the monthly calendar, and take extra time on that day to do something really special. Through the many festivities- from Ti leaf presents, to special treats on a woven leaf mat, we have discovered that every primate loves a party!

Anna and Lazero work together to unwrap their birthday present 

Carlos and Margarite use their nimble fingers to open up a Ti leaf present,
along with a beautiful ginger flower, filled with delicious sweet nectar 

On her 17^th birthday, Echo received a mat woven from leaves covered with 

many of her favorite treats spelling out“Happy B-Day 17”

We Mourn the Passing of Beloved Iktomi 

This critically endangered cotton top tamarin spent 13 years at Pacific Primate Sanctuary. Over the years, Iktomi’s mobility decreased due to a neurological disorder, until he reached a state of almost total paralysis. Iktomi was so fortunate to have a devoted companion, Leticia, who spent her days grooming him and staying close to provide warmth and comfort.

 Intern Alli remembers this pair well, and writes: “My favorite memories are definitely about both Iktomi and Leticia together. Despite his mobility issues, Iktomi had one of the most luxurious cotton tops of the whole corridor thanks to Leticia. I also loved seeing them snuggled up tight together in the tent at bed time.” 

 Several months ago, Iktomi became immobilized to the extent that he could no longer care for himself. He became totally dependent upon the support of his caregivers, who have tenderly fed him, wrapped him in soft blankets, taken him outdoors into the sunlight, cleaned and bathed him, and deeply enjoyed his company. He was a strong monkey, who cherished every moment of life, despite his lack of mobility. 

PPS volunteers cared for Iktomi devotedly, with mindful awareness of his needs and preferences. Because of their care, he was able to choose the time of his death and passed away quietly in his sleep on Tuesday, April 10th. Iktomi’s undefeated spirit and determination to live, regardless of his physical handicaps, touched all of our hearts.

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. 4, Issue 5, Part 2

WHAT’S HAPPENING at PPS 

Food Donations 

Emilio enjoys a donated peach slice

We wish to express our sincere appreciation to Down to Earth and Whole Foods Marketplace, two very generous stores here on Maui. Every week, compassionate employees set aside food for us, including fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, granola, yogurt, and an assortment of treats we could not afford to buy. PPS Volunteers eagerly anticipate Wednesdays, when we go to these two stores to find a bounty of delicious foods, ready to take back to the monkeys. The delighted trills of all the monkeys confirm their excitement at receiving their favorite foods.

Thank you Down to Earth and Whole Foods Marketplace! 

HOW YOU CAN HELP THE MONKEYS

Spread the Word
One of the easiest ways for you to support the monkeys at Pacific Primate Sanctuary is by sharing information about our refuge with others. Pass this E-Newsletter on to your family and friends and encourage them to “Like” us on Facebook— http://www.facebook.com/PacificPrimateSanctuary. 

Looking for a worthwhile gift idea for Father’s Day? You can make a donation in honor of your Dad and we will send him a beautiful Contribution Certificate to commemorate your gift. Just send your donation, along with the name and contact information for the person you wish to receive the certificate. Contribution Certificates make wonderful gifts for any special occasion.

 The support of compassionate people is what keeps our good work going. Please choose this meaningful gift so that we can continue to protect and conserve the beings with whom we share the Earth.






Donating to Pacific Primate Sanctuary can be as simple as doing an Internet search, or shopping online- two things that you are probably already doing!

 Visit GoodSearch.com and designate Pacific Primate Sanctuary as your charity of choice and get started using this wonderful program. Each time you do a search using GoodSearch, or shop online using GoodShop, a contribution will be made to PPS!

Volunteer Your Time 
We are currently in need of more local volunteers! We need Animal Caregivers, Office Assistants, Handy people, and Gardeners/Landscapers. Retirees are welcome. If you live on Maui and are interested in becoming one of Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s Angels, by volunteering your time and skills, please e-mail us at pps@aloha.net

 How to Donate Directly
We deeply appreciate your contributions to the monkeys. You and your family and friends, can make tax-deductible donations on our Website: www.pacificprimate.org and on FaceBook, using PayPal, or by sending a check to: Pacific Primate Sanctuary 500-A Haloa Road Haiku, HI 96708 With your support, you make everything we do possible!

PPS INTERNSHIP 

 Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s immersion Internship began 8 years ago, and it is very gratifying to see how the program has grown and deepened. This year we have had many exceptional, well-qualified Intern Applicants. Lucy and Erin have been busy in the office, reading through application material, conducting Skype Interviews, and consulting with senior staff to choose our new Interns. Thank you to our amazing donors who help to fund this program, and to our many outstanding applicants. You are a testament to Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s unique resident Internship experience!

Stephanie was selected as our June 2012-2013 Intern. She will be arriving on June 6th; just one day after Intern Linda heads off to Vet School. Stephanie has a degree in Anthropology with a focus on Primate Behavior, and has spent time studying Chimpanzee behavior at the St. Louis Zoo.

 We are very pleased to have Stephanie join the PPS Team!

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.