Maniña's friends are mainly monkeys.

Maniña is by far the largest monkey we have at Cañaote. People often discuss whether or not howler monkeys adopt habits or characteristics of their human friends. Maniña came to us from a very loving family and he is highly domesticated. I am told that he went out to meals in quality restaurants. He lived in a house not a cage with his human family and was treated as a member of the family. He is house trained with never a mistake. He will quite suddenly and without warning deliver a kiss smack on the lips. He loves to roll over and invites you to rub his tummy. This is unusual, howler generally do not like their underside to be touched. He likes to hold hands. Whilst some monkeys avoid human contact, Miss Billy for example, he actively seeks you out. He is never happier than when he is sitting on your shoulder. These are all learned activities. This of course makes him very pleasant to be with. He is a charming young monkey.

Maniña is very athletic and runs wild over the walkways in the enclosure. He is also great rope climber. He is in the peek of good health; His coat has a fine sheen. He has made the transition from little boy to young adult monkey very well. He plays hard every day with his friends who are mostly monkeys

That was the week that was.

Lucio, Schatov and Moñito continue to play in the 'Garden Lucio' during the day. The colored balls in the in the hammock have become a focus of the days play, Daniel, one of our occasional helpers, needs to put the balls back in the hammock several times a day. They get scattered everywhere during the vigorous play. Our picture shows Lucio on the edge of the hammock just waiting to pounce. This enclosure is well equipped with toys. In addition to the many bamboo walkways there are ladders, hoops and ropes to climb. Howlers love to play and hate boredom. You will remember that Lucio’s garden also has a very fine house. All these boys gather there around mid day for the afternoon rest. Breakfast is served at seven and the afternoon meal at twelve. Dinner is at four o’clock. Just before time for these children to come into our house for the night. Some one asked the other day, ‘why don’t they sleep in their beautiful house at night?’ They will when they want to. At present the garden and the house are very new to them. At some point they will regard this as home and will not want to be moved to our house in the evening. They will let me know when that time has arrived. In the meantime I have the pleasure of their company.

Dealing with grief

The first few days of a monkeys residence here at Canaote is always a sensitive time. The monkey is always confused and frightened. Often this is the first time that they will have seen another monkey apart from their mother. They associate the experience with loss. In addition they have lost humans who in most cases have been loving and supportive.
Inevitability the monkey experiences grief. This is often demonstrated by passing up and down on one path in any enclosure. The vocal sounds at this time are typical and do not very between howler monkeys. This approximates to (wa-oh) the oh sound being drawn out. This is a fair indication that some form of universal language exist between howler monkeys. This period of grief can vary in duration from a day to a week but rarely beyond that. This of course depends on the monkey’s previous experience. Those that grieve longest are those who come from a loving and supportive human family. Time is the great healer. We never leave a monkey to his misery. During this period he will have constant love and attention. It must be said that the human donor most often suffers more grief than the child. This grieving can be for an extended period, sometimes amounting to many months. This sense of loss is very real. We are very aware of the trauma of parting and we try to minimize the experience. Firstly we consider the monkey. If the monkey comes from a home where he has been in constant contact with a human, we try to duplicate that relationship. Often the monkey will be in the company of someone here twenty four hours a day and in particular at night. It is not unusual to find someone with a monkey on their shoulders as they go about the day’s chores. Clearly this is not a permanent arrangement and a suitable solution has to be found. Where possible we introduce the monkey to compatible companions. This selection has to be carefully done. Howlers have their likes and dislikes when it comes to choosing friends. A short period of trial and error is sometimes needed.
For the human state we offer this blog, which is updated several times a week. We encourage unlimited visiting and we are always available on the telephone and online with facilities like Windows Messenger, e-mail and Google talk. For those who are very sad we sometimes introduce other former owners to each other. This has been a great aid to getting through the grief. We somewhat lightly call this ‘Simian Samaritans’.
For this evenings photograph we have Moñito, who has only been with us since the weekend. Already he is spending part of his day with two other boys, although he is with me overnight. You see him here doing justice to a piece of Lechosa (Papaya). He never stops eating if given the chance. I have the impression that he wants to be a big monkey by tomorrow afternoon.

The news breaks. Moñito arrives.

It was breaking news because it all happened so quickly. A few days ago, I received mail from Schatov’s family in Caracas. A friend had found a young Howler on a building site. They were not exactly sure, at that time of his age or sex. What they did know was that he was very young, small and weak. He wore a harness, so he had either been abandoned or was a run away. The friend, who found him, of course fell in love with him and gave him a name. His name is Moñito. They decided that he would have a better future if he could live with other monkeys and on Saturday morning the 19th January 2008, they brought him to Cañaote. Something strange happens when people come in contact with young Howlers. They fall in love with them and can scarcely bare to part with them. We have seen so many people in tears when it came time to part with a monkey. I can identify with those who come under their spell. I did myself, many years ago. Graciela and Erika, the family of Schatov, accompanied Carlos and Patricia who found Moñito. They spent many hours here to be sure that Moñito settled down with the other monkeys. These were fun hours because Moñito at once began to interact with Schatov and Lucio. Although Moñito is small he is no ones push over. They had some great games that morning. My immediate plan is that he will spend the late evenings in the house with Me, Lucio and Schatov but will spend his days in the outside enclosure, ‘Lucio’s Garden’. He needs exercise and sunshine and he will certainly get it here.

Stop Press. Hold the front page.

News story about to break. Keep in touch.

Miss Billy loves the sun.

Miss Billy was five and a half years old when she came to us. She was called Billy until I told the former ‘owner’ that he was a girl. She had been kept in a very small cage. Ignored and completely and devoid of love and affection. Additionally she had very severe rickets, caused principally by inappropriate diet. Her spine and arms and legs were all curved and brittle. We have treated her rickets with calcium and sunshine. She now shares a large enclosure with five other monkeys. She is presently the only female in that group. Her rickets has improved and her general health. She is by no means completely cured but she has made great strides. She does not allow her infirmities to affect her enjoyment. She climbs ropes and uses the bamboo walkways to the full. She still very withdrawn and untrusting but we are getting there.

Eslabon Daddy's boy

Eslabon is a charming fellow and he is one and a half years old. When we needed a sympathetic big brother for little Tutti, we chose Eslabon. He has been the perfect friend for Tutti. Some months ago when we opened the big new enclosure, we needed someone to sleep with Tutti, he could not sleep there alone. Eslabon and Tutti cuddled up together at night for warmth and company. Somewhat later we introduced Miss Billy to the family. She is very introspective but nevertheless she joins in the bedtime cuddle. Recently Maniña joined the group.

Whenever I enter their garden, Eslabon immediately jumps on my lap and stays there for as long as I let him. He is a real softy. He wants affection. I know he would like to come over to the house with me but that way he will never grow into a monkey.

Eslabon arrived here in August last year. His family brought him, that all. It would be nice if they called occasionally, because he is a very special person.

Schatov and Lucio are good pals.

Schatov is two and a half years old and he is fun. During the last year he has grown and now sports a credible beard. In spite of a lot of macho behavior he succeeds in being a delightful monkey to be with. When he macho gnaws your hand it is with gentleness, never breaking the skin. He is very athletic and quick moving. He has developed powerful muscles in both his arms and legs. Even though he is now a big monkey he still loves being picked up and given a cuddle.
Lucio has a house and new enclosure but Lucio does not like being there alone. We wanted to find a friend to share this garden with during the day. It had to be a monkey with a friendly disposition and we at once thought of Schatov.
He has been sharing the Lucio enclosure during the day for a week now. The pair of them fight together for hours at a time. But no one gets hurt. It is just a great game. But come late afternoon Schatov is asking to return to his own enclosure. Lala is waiting for him. What Lala wants Lala gets or something like that.

Sorry no update

We are sorry that there has been no new Forget me not since the beginning of the year. We understand that Movestar have been upgrading their facilities and thus we have had no service. The service has now been restored and we have a post for you ready for later today.