Au revoir mon Cher

I feel silly sitting here with tears racing down my face but I can’t help it. Marco has been playing alone for many months now. He swings on his ropes, climbs his ladders and runs around his walkways and all at high speed. However, he is lonely. Gabriela has a beautiful lady Howler, called Vicky she is also alone and craves for a friend to keep her company. We decided to put them together. Marco is a young adult and not far off wanting to be a father and raise a family. Putting them together is the best solution for both these children.
I have nurtured Marco since he was a tiny 500 grams. I have been with him everyday for the last three years, feeding him, playing with him. Sussy was his foster mother and she cared for him during his childhood, carrying him everywhere on her back.
Just like any father, I am tearful now my boy leaves home. Selfish? Yes because that is the nature of love. But I know I can visit him whenever I like and in the famous words. I have not lost a son, I have gained a daughter. We will watch him develop his new life with fascination. He will be free in the trees at Manrique He will share his life with Vicky. I love them both.
Our picture shows Marco just moments before he drove away with Gabriela on his way to his new life. In a cage for the journey but only for a very short while.

Sussy looking young and pretty

Sussy is an old lady but still very active and athletic. A few months ago we noticed some loss of hair and also the tone of her legs muscles gave us some concern. Gabriela, her human mother arranged for an analysis of the hair in the area of hair loss and discovered a parasitic infection. This was treated successfully. We also gave her a diet supplement to give her more vitamins and a little fish oil. The result has been dramatic. Here you see her this morning enjoying a forbidden ice cream with Longan fruit. Her coat is healthy and the tone has returned to her legs.

Note: The longan is native to southern China, in the provinces of Kwangtung, Kwangsi. The formal name is Dimocarpus longan
Closely allied to the glamorous lychee, in the family Sapindaceae, the longan, or lungan, also known as dragon's eye or eyeball, and as mamoncillo chino in Cuba, has been referred to as the "little brother of the lychee", or li-chihnu, "slave of the lychee". Botanically, it is placed in a separate genus, and is currently designated Dimocarpus longan Lour. (syns. Euphoria longan Steud.; E. longana Lam.; Nephelium longana Cambess.). We have an avenue of tall, mature Longans here at Canaote but fruit has sofar eluded us. According to the esteemed scholar, Prof. G. Weidman Groff, the longan is less important to the Chinese as an edible fruit, more widely used than the lychee in Oriental medicine.

Our prayers for this little boy.

It has been my custom to visit websites where the keepers of other breeds of monkey exchange ideas.
My mission is the shelter and rescue of Howler monkeys in Venezuela.
I have no quarrel with those who care for primates in private
facilities. I have also said that I have no problem with dealers who
legitimately breed primates for sale. This can be the ultimate
salvation of the primates when we have finally destroyed their
habitats. I do hope I have made this clear.
Not against legitimate private ownership.
Not against controlled breeding for sale.
There is a difference between breeding for sale and collection with shotgun from the wild.
So it was with horror that I read the following letter from an owner in the USA.

'I have an adult male rhesus macaque that needs to be placed in an
experienced home. He is not tame and is not for breeding as he tries to
hurt the females. He must be picked up in Arizona. You must have a dart
gun and a welded steel crate to transport him. If you are interested
please call me at xxx xxxxxx'

Where did this monkey come from? Why is he so angry. If he is not tame then what is he doing in a cage? What sort of kindness is it that starts with a dart gun in hand?
I pray for his salvation from this torment, join me.

Welcome back Mum.

Manina comes from a human family who have been in touch with us almost daily since he arrived here. Sadly the family lost computer facility before Christmas, so they have not been able to read about him on Forget me not. A few days ago I noticed that the facility had returned and the family, once again are in contact. Manina is a very special little person. He is almost human in his behavior. He eats his supper every night with me and sleeps part of the night in my quarters before heading back to his favorite hammock. I know he will be happy to know that the family are once again in the loop.

Nature's bounty

These are some of the fruits available in Cañaote Botanic Garden this week. Needless to say the monkeys really love them.

The large red fruit that looks like a heart is Annona reticulate or ‘Corozon’. Sometimes known as ‘Custard Apple’. Grown from seed here at Cañaote in February 1998. It is a native of Tropical America. It makes great ice-cream and juice.
The little yellow fruit is ‘Pouteria Ross’ or ‘Ross Canistel’. Probably a hybrid of ‘Pouteria camechiana’ and is the best tasting of the Canistels. Our cutting was planted in August 1999.

This was a selection from the monkey's breakfast preparation. The fruit was picked freshly this morning.

Did you know?

If you click on any of our photographs, you will get a full page view which is greatly magnified. Try it.

Bruised fruit Mary.

Over time, several people have written to me saying that I treat the Monkeys like human children. I don’t take this as criticism because to an extent this is true. It is easy to see why, because often they act like children. Let me give you an example. MonaLisa, Rosita and Schatov sleep together in David’s room at night. They tuck themselves under the sheets just like human children. The only thing missing is the bedtime story. (I will get around to it). A few evenings ago, the tranquil bedtime scene was broken by a vocal disagreement coming from the bedroom. I investigated and there in full throat was Schatov, clearly unhappy and MonaLisa puffed up and ready for a fight. I don’t know what caused this quarrel but I suspect it was about Schatov wanting to sleep where MonaLisa had already chosen to be. Schatov was upset and ran towards me. I picked him up and cradled him in my arms to comfort him. Just as you would if a boy had stolen your son’s ball. He relaxed, he wanted that comfort and reassurance. That night he slept very close to me until the early hours. Then he left my room. In the morning, all forgiven, I found him snuggled up against MonaLisa. The small crisis had passed.

Mañiña is a monkey very used to constant human attention. He is very healthy and strong, plays vigorously on his ropes and swings for most of the day. Usually he sleeps in my room for part of the night. He wants the interaction with me but at the same time he loves to sleep in his own hammock. Quite often at night, he will look at me very seriously, and then his hand will touch my face. He will examine my nose and mouth with his hand. He will run his fingers over my ears. He is trying to identify me. The question is, do I treat them like children or do they treat me like a monkey?
Mañiña has one bad habit. When he has the free run of my room, he does an examination of my waste bin. Anything edible or smelling of food will attract his attention. Chances are it will end up in his mouth. He reminds me of the old women one often sees in fruit markets. You see them going around the back of all the stalls collecting bruised or substandard fruit and vegetables. I used to call them ‘Bruised fruit Mary’.

My bottom picture is of Schatov, from the set I took of the Champejak. The top one is Mañiña doing his 'bruise fruit Mary'.

Home sweet home

This was an irresistible photo call for Schatov, Rosita and MonaLisa. I caught them on their front porch, relaxing in the early afternoon. MonaLisa has had a soft spot for Schatov ever since he arrived. Moreover, Rosita is fond of Schatov. Three very good friends. The little house is small but some how, all three manage to spend siesta inside. Originally it was owned by Abu the capuchin lady that lived with us whilst she was awaiting release to the wild. She donated the house when she departed.

We are eating Champedak

The Christmas/ New Year festival is over and gradually the world has begun to resume its normal rhythm. People turn in for work and I now spend more time with the children rather than scrubbing their floors. This month we are expecting a new lady arrival, Lala who will be coming from Caracas. When we have more information about her I will mail it. We are expecting Marco to leave us and go to live in Manrique with Gabriela, Vicky and Ronnie. I shall miss his cheeky play but we plan to visit him often. He has lived here with Sussy since he was very small but now he needs younger female company.
Cañaote is a Botanic Garden. We specialize in rare fruits. Monkeys love fruit, and above all, love variation in their diet. We often have something rare and delicious to add to their meals and they find it irresistible. This week our Jackfruit X Champedak hybrid is ready for picking. For those of you who have a botanic leaning, (Artocarpus heterophyllus X Artocarpus integer).
We have some pictures of the children enjoying the Champedak. First is Rosita and Schatov, always good friends. Then Schatov saying 'Hey that’s my piece'. Finally, Mañiña really enjoying the fruit.

Note. This plant was deliberately hybridized by Singapore Botanic Garden. Because it was so successful, they distributed the seed worldwide. We obtained our seed from Australia.
You can see the children eating the Arils, the fleshy part around the seed.

Machismo?

Howler Monkeys have unique personalities. Totto has some very pronounced characteristics. I have always realized that he is very macho. However, he shows considerable deference to his wife, Sophie. He will always allow her to eat first and take the choice pieces of a meal. Just recently, I have begun to recognize some interesting traits in Totto’s behavior. When I place food in front of him, he will not accept it whilst I look on. He waits until I have apparently departed. Then he hurries to accept the offering. This applies to both main meals and tidbits. He is very fond of biscuits, cheese, and any kind of meat. He would rather see Sophie steal his favorite snack than be seen to accept a gift directly from me. I am at a loss to explain this behavior except in terms of Machismo. If anyone can offer another explanation, I will be very interested to hear it. His attitude to Sophie is atypical. Normally the leader eats first and the females get the leftovers and the kids get the banana skins. Could it be that he is treating me as the leader? Our picture is of course Totto, taken yesterday.

Christmas comes but once a year.

The Christmas period has been a hectic one for me at Cañaote. For about two weeks now we have had no staff working with the monkeys. All the scrubbing and cleaning, bedding changing, dish washing and food preparation has been done by me. I should be exhausted but secretly I have enjoyed every minute.
There seems to be little thought about the little Jesus, born in a Shepard's manger with a crib for a bed. I am saddened by this attitude. The heavy commercialization of Christmas goes on with little regard for the simplicity of life that our Lord taught us. But enough of my complaining. All the children are well except Nancy, who has a bad cold. She is suspicious of the medicine and has been difficult to treat. Even wiping her nose angers Emma, who thinks I am trying to take Nancy away from her. In spite of the lack of staff, the monkeys have celebrated the Christmas and New Year in fine style. All have had a turkey dinner and Christmas pudding. Marco has been outside his enclosure quite often over the last few days but doesn't need much encouragement to return to his house.
Today’s photograph shows Totto looking out of his window. Shortly we are to construct a new home for him and Sophie, inside the security fence. His human family has furnished the substantial funds needed for this big job. We are very grateful for their help in this task.