2017 In Review

Rosie and baby at 6 weeks…

Dear Friends of the Sanctuary,

Rosie has definitely filled our hearts with joy! She gave birth to a healthy offspring during the early morning hours on the 18th of October. The baby has started to be interested in what her mother is eating and Rosie has begun giving some soft foods.

How exciting to have a baby around that the mother is taking care of! None of those feedings every 90 minutes!

Here is living evidence that conservation projects take more time than most people realize. We received our first spider monkey in October of 2003. It took us 14 years for a female to mate with a wild (Mr. Macho). The success of a release is based upon the ability to reproduce in the wild.

WE FINALLY MADE IT!

Dr. Birtué Galdikas, whom I had the honor of meeting names her orangutan offspring with the first letter of the mother, she says this is an easy way to keep track. We are anxiously awaiting for the moment Rosie will let us know.

On my left is Charlene DeJori & Sharyn Wolf is the other intrepid traveler.

My dear friend, Charlene gifted me a trip to Borneo to be with the orangutans and Dr. Biruté Galdikas at Camp Leaky! It was the adventure of a life time.

The rivers and forests we toured were beautiful, but it made me love and admire Costa Rica so much more because of their efforts to save their biodiversity.

Dr. Galdikas with one of her charges eating a mango..

What an honor is was to meet Dr. Biruté Galdikas, the founder of Camp Leaky and the Orangutan Foundation International in Borneo. She is responsible for saving so many orangutans and is constantly defending the forests where they live.

Being with Dr. Biruté for over a week made me realize how much she and I had in common with many of the daily situations such as finances, governmental regulations, and for her—most importantly the loss of habitat. The palm oil industry is devastating the island of Borneo.

Her facilities with 300+ orangutans and an equal amount of employees has a very professional surgery room, an x-ray machine and a fully equipped laboratory.

Dr. Diruté is a true hero for her life long devotion to saving such a sentient and endangered animal.

In our 12/18/16 Issue we told the story of Isaiah, the margay we had released in 2008; due to injuries he returned to the Sanctuary last November. About two months prior to knowing when we would release, we started to feed him every morning at 9:00 to let him know if he wasn’t successful hunting in the wild, he could return for a meal or two if need be. He has never returned indicating he is out living in the wild once again.

The two scarlet macaw chicks were hatched and ready to be introduced into the flock.

One from the caged birds at the Sanctuary that can’t fly and one chick from the wild.

The wild chick’s nest was at Playa Cativo Lodge. The workers saw him take his first big leap of faith to fly and flew like a rock. Fortunately it wasn’t injured and just needed a little more time to strengthen his flight muscles.

We were able to save a brown pelican with an injured wing.

She was found on Cacao Beach in Golfito.

The first time we put her in the water to allow her to clean herself and have a fresh drink—she took off, but couldn’t get any height. The caretaker had to jump into the boat to save her!

The staff see her floating in our bay from time to time so we know she is doing well.

Lola the ocelot is doing well! Photo by Jeff Cable Photography

Remember the mono titi that

was born in last Dec? She is with the others in the pre-release cage.

The peccaries Leno and Chonchito loving life in their mud. Photograph by Ana Victoria Carrillo

Since we released Ripley, she has been with Mr. Macho, the one responsible for Rosie’s baby.

Dr. Jay King and Dr. Andres Tello anesthetizing

Winkie for her throat operation.

In memory of a very valiant man that put his life in front of his charges—the gorillas in Virunga NP, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa.

We helped sponsor and participated in Osa Ecology’s Nov. beach

cleaning campaign.

The multi-purpose building is close to completion. The roofing material is being delivered—after that, the interiors and we will be ready to offer classes next summer. We will be able to put solar panels on the roof!

Your support this past year has been tremendous—you helped us to improve the life of these deserving animals in need.

We were also able to purchase all the materials for the multipurpose building (including solar panels) to start our learning center.

We thank you for your confidence in us—we will carry on to show our appreciation through continuing to improve every facet of the Sanctuary to saving wildlife.

Thank you to those that gave their support through purchasing our calendars. Appreciation is also extended to those that gave us throughout the year. Because of your help we were able to continue releasing and giving those less fortunate the best care possible.

Please press the PayPal icon below to make your year end donation.

Or you could write a check today made payable to Osa Wildlife Sanctuary Foundation, Inc. and send to P.O. Box 171, Greenwood, IN 46142-0171.

Everyone at the Sanctuary sends their most powerful and positive thoughts for a most prosperous and salubrious New Year for you and your loved ones.

THANK YOU!