All things bright and beautiful.

We enter another new year. Here at Cañaote we are ever aware of our responsibility to care for God’s children. This is the reason for our endeavors. We try to serve him through our work with the monkeys in our care. We often think of Saint Francis who recognized that all creatures were made by God and that they have a place reserved here on earth and in the life to come. We give praise to God and thank him for the help and wisdom given to us by his servant Saint Francis.

I love the Hymn, ‘All things bright and beautiful’. I often sing it when I am with the children. Here are the words. You can find the music on the net.

All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
the Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
each little bird that sings,
he made their glowing colors,
he made their tiny wings. Refrain

The purple-headed mountain,
the river running by,
the sunset, and the morning
that brightens up the sky. Refrain

The cold wind in the winter,
the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden,
he made them every one. Refrain

He gave us eyes to see them,
and lips that we might tell
how great is God Almighty,
who has made all things well. Refrain

Lucio's new house arrives.

You will have read about the family of Lucio building a house for him. I published a suggested construction for the house. There have to be certain basic requirements like the ability to withstand heavy rainstorms and provide shelter against the sun. The construction also has to take into account the vigorous activity of insects in this area so close to the forest. You will see from our photograph that the house has been built to a very high standard. (Way beyond my specification). Its two floors and two doors make it eminently practical for monkey habitation, they love it. It is also a very pretty house with a garden scene pained on the sides. Lucio and Maniña have already had great games around it, chasing each other through the doorways and up and down the staircase, yes it has a stair case. A human child, being given this house would think that they had a very superior dolls house. We thank Lucio's family for this wonderful gift and even more for the trouble of transporting it to us from Caracas.

Marco our birthday boy

Well I almost missed telling you about our birthday boy. Marco de Pooh Pooh to give him his full title, is four years old today. On a day some four years ago, a small red bundle of fur, no larger than my fist, was brought to Canaote. He had been found alone in the forest and was brought to us by the boys who had found him.
We often think about him at Christmas not only because he first came to us in this season but because he did not come from a human home. Nearly all of our children have been brought to us from human families. Marco is the exception. For this reason he reminded me of the Nat King Cole song, 'The little boy that Santa Claus forgot'. No one every enquired after him. No loving human called to see how he was getting on in his new home.
But our story has a happy ending. Sussy adopted him and treated him like her own son and for three years she nurtured him. Ultimately he became too boisterous for the old lady and we had to separate them. He was now a big adult monkey.

We had news that Gabriela's female, Vicky was looking for a husband and we decided that we would let them meet. Marco went on a visit to Vicky and the magic happened. They fell in love. They are now totally inseparable. The little boy that Santa forgot has made a success of his life. He now lives, free in the trees with a beautiful lady howler.
Marco is at Manrique with Vicky and Gabriela, his human family so we could not be together today but here at Canaote we opened a bottle of bubbly and raised our glasses to him. Happy birthday Marco. We really did.

LA HISTORIA DE PANCHO

English readers, don't panic, there is a translation below this article in English. All blame for the translation is mine.(Philip)

The story of Pancho is written by Gabriela de Olivieri and relates the true story of her experience in rescuing a capuchin monkey.


El pasado día Martes 12 de Diciembre, a las 3.30 de la tarde, venia de regreso a mi casa en Manrique, cuando a lo lejos en la carretera vi a un vehiculo estacionado al lado derecho, habían tres personas un adultos y dos jóvenes, y uno de ellos llevaba algo en las manos, baje la velocidad y le comente a mi esposo que me acompañaba, “Seguro van a botar un perro”, pero cual fue mi sorpresa, no era un perro, era un mono capuchino, como lo llevaban agarrado por debajo de los brazos y el cuerpo y las piernas totalmente colgando, pensé que estaba muerto, inmediatamente me detuve y me baje del carro y les pregunte ¿Ese mono esta muerto?, y el joven me respondió no esta vivo, lo que pasa es que esta dormido porque lo sedamos para poderlo traer hasta aquí.
Y yo les pregunte muy molesta, ¿Y que pensaban hacer?
Y ellos respondieron: Dejarlo aquí en la orilla de la carretera para cuando despierte se vaya al monte, y viva libre.
Yo me enfurecí mas todavía de lo que estaba, y les dije que eso que estaban haciendo era una muerte segura para el mono, que el toda su vida había vivido con humanos, y que el no sabia como conseguir su alimento, ni que hojas podía comer, y que lo más seguro era que algún animal lo atacara, o peor aun que fuera atropellado por un carro al intentar cruzar la carretera.
Ellos se quedaron callados y apenados, y luego contestaron que ellos no habían pensado en eso.
También me dijeron que lo estaba haciendo porque el mono había mordido a un niño. Esa es la historia de siempre, cuando las personas adquieren un animal silvestre, tienen que pensar que el va a crecer y que por su naturaleza silvestre va a morder algún día a alguien, eso es lo normal.
Decidí en ese momento que lo llevaría a mi casa, no podía permitir que lo abandonaran en ese sitio, les pedí que me acompañaran a mi casa, ya que no podía llevar al mono sin ningún tipo de jaula, dentro del carro, porque se podía despertar.
Ellos así lo hicieron, y llevamos al mono en mi carro, y el padre de ellos fue en su vehiculo detrás de mío.
En mi casa yo tengo una jaula grande del tamaño de una habitación, preparada para monos, con cuerdas y maderas para que ellos caminen, una mesa para que los monos coman, una cesta con una almohada dentro, para que estén cómodos, y una silla donde me siento a observarlos y hacerles cariños.
Cuando llegamos lo colocamos sobre la pequeña cama, acostado de lado.
Yo les pregunte, que sedante le habían suministrado, y me contestaron que no sabían, que ellos lo habían comprado en una tienda de animales.
El hecho es que la medicina fue muy fuerte, porque el mono despertó cerca de las 10.30 de la noche, yo le suministre agua y cambur, y me dio mucha gracia porque el todavía estaba aturdido por la medicación y abrazo el cambur y se quedo dormido de nuevo.
Lo deje descansar y estaba segura que al otro día estaría totalmente restablecido, y así fue, cuando lo visite en la mañana, estaba muy activo corriendo por todas partes, pero más que todo porque uno de mis monos araguatos, Marco, estaba asustándolo, Marco es muy grande y fuerte y le hacia como que lo iba a atacar, lo cual no es posible, porque la jaula tiene un segundo enrejado a 60 cms., del original, para evitar que puedan morderle los dedos a los monos que estén dentro de la jaula.
En ese momento pensé en entregarle este mono a mi amigo Philip, ya que el tiene todos los monos en jaulas grandes y no habría problemas con otros monos.
Mis monos araguatos son adultos, y no aceptan a otro mono, Marco es muy celoso al igual que su esposa Vicky, y siempre hay problemas cuando llega un nuevo mono, porque mi política es no tener a ningún animal encerrado, ellos tienen que vivir libres, correr, saltar y comer las hojas que le gusten.
Ese mismo día converse con Philip del mono Capuchino Pancho, y el estuvo de acuerdo en recibirlo en su casa.
Por lo que el día Jueves siguiente lo lleve a su nuevo hogar, donde estoy segura que el va a tener una mejor vida, que la que tenía anteriormente, donde lo tenia con una cadena amarrado a su cintura.
Esta es la historia de Pancho, de cómo se salvo de una muerte a corto plazo, espero que Dios, siga poniendo en mi camino a esos seres indefensos, que no tiene la culpa de haber sido victimas del trafico de fauna cuando eran unos bebés.
Le recomiendo a las personas que ven a los monos bebés o a cualquier animal, que venden a orillas de las carreteras, que no los compren, porque por ese animalito que esta en venta, han muerto a lo mejor 4 ó 5 ejemplares de su misma especie, tratando de defenderlo en su cacería, entre ellos la más importante la madre de ese animalito, que prefiere dar su vida, por no entregar a su hijo.
Recuerda que tu casa, no es su casa, déjalos vivir en libertad…..

Gabriela de Olivieri

The story of Pancho. By Gabriela de Olivieri

On December 12, at 3.30 in the afternoon, I was returning to my home in Manrique, when in the distance, on the road, I saw a vehicle parked on the right side. There were three people, an adult and two youths, and one of them had something in his hands. I slowed down and commented to my husband. “They are throwing away a dog", but to my surprise it was not a dog, but a cute cappuccino monkey. They held it under the arms, the body and the legs hung completely loose. I thought t it was dead, I stopped, and got out of the car and asked them if the monkey was dead. The youth responded that it was alive and that it was sleeping because it had been sedated to bring it here. I was very bothered by this and I asked them what they planed to do. They responded: To leave it here on the bank of the highway and then when it wakes up it will go to the mountain, and live free.
I became furious at this, and told them that they were condemning it to a certain death because this monkey had lived all its life with humans, and now did not know how to get its food, nor could it eat leaves. It was certain that some wild animal would attack it, or worse even, that it would be run over by a car when trying to cross the highway.
They were quiet and sorry, and then they answered that they had not thought of that.
They also told me they were doing this because the monkey had bitten a boy. That is always the story. When people acquire a wild animal, they have to consider that it will grow and that by reason of their wild nature it will bite somebody someday, that is usual.
I decided at that moment that I would take it to my house, I could not allow them to abandon him there, I asked them to accompany me since I could not take the monkey in my car without a cage, because it could wake up.
They did this, and they drove monkey back to my house in their car.
I have a big cage the size of a room, prepared for monkeys, with ropes and walkways so that they walk and play also a table where they can eat. There is also a basket with a pillow inside so that they are comfortable, and a seat where I can sit down and watch them and give them affection. This cage is for emergency use only, normally my animals are free in the trees.
When we arrived, we put him on a small bed.
I ask them what sedative they had given him, and they answered that they didn't know that they had bought it in a store.
The fact is that the medicine was very strong, because the monkey woke up near 10.30 at night, I gave him water and a banana, but he was still stunned by the medication and hugged the banana and slept again.
I allowed him to rest and I was sure that on the following day he would be completely well, and that is what happened. When I visited him in the morning, he was very active; running everywhere, but there was a reason. One of my cute araguatos (howler monkey), Marco, was scaring him, Marco is very big and strong and male, and he made as if to attack the capuchin. This was not possible because the cage is doubled and has a second layer of wire to prevent biting through to the monkeys that are inside the cage.
At that moment I thought of giving this monkey to my friend Philip, since he has all the monkeys in big cages and there would not be problems with other monkeys.
My cute araguatos are mature, and they don't accept other monkeys. In particular Marco, the boy, is very jealous of his wife Vicky, and there are always problems when a new monkey arrives because my policy is not to have any animal contained in cages, they have to live free, to run, to jump and to eat the leaves that they like.
That same day I spoke with Philip about the cute Capuchin, and he agreed to receive it in his house.
On the following day, Thursday I took him to his new home, where I am sure that he will have a better life than he had previously, where he had a chain tied to his waist.
This is Pancho's story, of how he was saved from certain death. I pray that God continues putting in my path those defenseless beings so that they can continue to live their natural lives. I recommend people that see the cute babies or any animals that are sold beside the highways not to buy them, because for that animal that is on sale, there have died 4 or 5 others of their same species perhaps, trying to defend it against the hunters. Among them the most important, the mother of that animal who prefers to give her life, to stop them taking her son.
Please remember that your house, is not their house, allow them to live in freedom...

Gabriela de Olivieri

Who is Pancho?

Probably, no one was more surprised to end up as a resident of Cañaote than Pancho. Excuse the pun, but thereby hangs a tail. As regular readers of this blog recognize, Cañaote is dedicated to the shelter of Howler monkeys and by no stretch of the imagination is Pancho a howler. He was rescued from the side of the road near Manrique by Gabriela. Gabriela has promised an account of his rescue. But briefly, she caught people trying to abandon him. He had been heavily sedated. The careless cruelty of these people is nothing short of criminal. One day I hope they get their just reward. More on this story as it comes in.

When kids grow up.

Do you know what it feels like to be a parent when it comes time to let your kids go off on their own to boarding school? Or when your eldest says, ‘I think it is time I moved out’.

I feel a bit like that this week. You remember that Maniña had a quarrel with Lala and it was necessary to separate him from Lala and Schatov? I couldn’t leave him alone in that enclosure so every evening around supper time I invite him into the house. He has been sharing my quarters with Miss Billy. Early morning I have been transporting them both to the big enclosure occupied by Eslabon and Tutti. It’s a big place with plenty to do. There are lots of bamboo walkways, swings and ropes and the company of other monkeys. For the first few weeks I continued to collect Miss Billy and Maniña in the evening, bringing them back to my quarters for the night.

This week, they have both refused to be collected. Preferring the company of other monkeys to the human environment I offer in the evening. It's a pleasure to see the pair of them playing with the others and sunning themselves the way Howlers love to do.

I have been surprised by this. In particular, Maniña is a daddy’s boy and loves to sleep in my quarters. Suddenly he has grown up and moved away from home.

Those of you who have never had the opportunity to observe Howler monkey’s sleeping arrangements should know that they like to sleep in a big group for maximum comfort and warmth.
Lucio is now the sole occupant of my quarters at night time. His house and garden are almost complete. Certainly it will be ready for him by this weekend. Our plan is that he will occupy the garden during the day and come in during the night. Until he tells us that he wants to leave home. We have yet to decide who his companions will be. Sophie has shown and interest and MonaLisa has put in her bid.
I almost forgot to tell you that is Maniña in the photograph but of course you knew that.

A new house in a new way

Something different is happening at Cañaote. We provide large enclosures for our children. We try as far as possible to make these locations as natural and forestlike as possible. We always include live trees and we supply fresh leaves and flowers from the forest every day. The enclosure has to cope with a variety of climatic conditions. So each location has at least one house although several of our gardens have more than one. These houses must cope with heavy rain in the wet season and sometimes strong winds. For the whole year the temperature rises quite sharply after midday, so the residence must be capable of providing shade. This is also necessary in the dry season. We achieve this by building an insulated box with two doors; monkeys always like to have a backdoor for escape. Then above this an open area or under roof level which is simply covered by a roof, allowing air to flow freely but still providing shelter from either the sun or the rain. Building these houses is a routine that we have whenever we make a new location.
What is new this time is that Lucio’s human family has made a significant contribution enabling us to build a rather special location for him. There will be pictures of this as soon as it is complete. The work is going ahead very fast and we are expecting it to be complete this week. Another unusual feature is that they have also volunteered to construct the house. This is the first time that a family has been actually involved in the construction of an enclosure by making or building something. Formerly families have made financial contributions but never actually hands on.

Our picture today is the first working diagram of the house. It will be interesting to compare it with the final result as it evolves.

A place in the Sun

Pictures to follow

We have eleven monkeys in our care. All of them from human homes, in various places in Venezuela. Most are from the jungles of Caracas although many come from Valencia and one from Aragua. All of them appear to be semi domesticated. MonaLisa likes to clean her teeth with cream and a toothbrush; yes she really does clean her teeth not just bite the brush. .Maniña likes to lay full length on the bed and be tickled. Eslabon adores a cuddle and sitting close. Lucio likes to shower, which is most unusual for a howler monkey. Howlers in general hate water on their coats. He also likes to hold hands. Sophie likes to cover herself with colorful materials and so on. Lala taught us that she likes to be brushed and now they all demand it. They have all adopted some facet of human behavior. It is easy to forget that they are wild animals. Fortunately there are some reminders. Early morning all of our children engage in the mighty roar. The whole house reverberates with their call. This is their statement that this is their territory, and it belongs to them. It also reminds us that they are still wild animals and are asserting their right to a place in the sun.