The little boy that Santa Claus forgot.

Our picture is Erik

Some of our children have human families that regularly visit or at least enquire about their wards. These families often visit bringing gifts and demonstrate in many ways their continuing love and responsibility for their monkeys.
The sad fact is that we have many children that were DUMPED here as an easy way out of a responsibility. Monkeys have a life span greater than the weeks of Christmas, many of them will live for forty years.
Several of our kids have moved through the irresponsibility of their original owners into a secure life of their own. I think particularly of Marco, who now has a wife with the beautiful Vicky and lives free in the trees at the home of Gabriela. Now he has a successful and fulfilled life. I once called him the little boy who Santa Claus forgot. You remember the Nat King Cole rendition of that old song? But there are others who have no family to ask after them.
A secret. When I was a small child my mother sang that song to me and I cried. ‘Please Mum don’t sing that song’, because it broke my heart to think of a child who had no Daddy and had to play with last year’s broken toys. Perhaps deep down, this is the reason I accepted the mission to care for these children.
MonaLisa Dumped here by her owner and then not another word in the years that followed. No enquiry and not a penny paid to help her upkeep. She is the most loving and beautiful Howler Lady. How could anyone think of abandoning her?
Tutti a baby Howler, brought here by a rescue group. Not even one enquiry. Over my shoulder goes one care. Now he is our care.
Oliver a capuchin monkey. brought here by the same rescue group.
Sophie who was brought in from the wild by local children, her family died in fires.
Emma who came to us from ARFA rescue center who have contributed generously over the years for all the children. But she has no family.
Saco who rescued himself. He came to us during a heavy storm, searching for his family. He had been captured by boys seeking to sell him and then release when they could not find a buyer. His family killed in the process by them.
Miss Billy. Who was brought to us by a rescuer, who found her abandoned, in the streets of Caracas.
Pancho, a capuchin Monkey, left drugged by the roadside to get rid of him. He was fortunately rescued by Gabriela who saw the attempted abandonment.
Erik is a baby Howler with no human family to ask after him.

That is the situation; nine of our seventeen children have no family.
Have you thought of adopting one of our waifs? Over the Christmas days I will be publish photographs of the children with no family. I will give you information of what is required to be an adopting parent. The principal requirement is to provide a regular monthly sum of money to assist in supporting the child. They really do need someone to love them and to think about them and help with their upkeep. There has never been a time when they needed you more. Volunteer your help now.

Here are the words of that song sung by Nat King Cole.

He sent a note to Santa
For some soldiers and a drum,
It broke his little heart
When he found Santa hadn't come.
He's the little boy that Santa Claus forgot,
And goodness knows, he didn't want a lot.



In the street he envies all those lucky boys,
Then wanders home to last year's broken toys.
I'm so sorry for that laddie,
He hasn't got a daddy,
The little boy that Santa Claus forgot.


Spoken:
(You know, Christmas comes but once a year for every girl and boy,
The laughter and the joy they find in each brand new toy.
I'll tell you of a little boy that lives across the way...
This little fella's Christmas is just another day.
He's the little boy that Santa Claus forgot,
And goodness knows, he didn't want a lot.)


In the street he envies all those lucky boys,
Then wanders home to last year's broken toys.
I'm so sorry for that laddie,
He hasn't got a daddy,
The little boy that Santa Claus forgot.