Hello, Friends!

Part of “Monkey 101” is learning how monkey mothers do not hold on to their offspring. The neonate must hold onto the mother; if they don’t, they fall to the ground. Mother can’t afford to waste her energy on one that is not 100%.

This is a very simplified explanation. Some of the infants that arrive could have been a victim of an innocent act from a tourist. Or a true natural act when a family saw the mother sloth push one of the twins off knowing she would not be able to tend for both of them. Or, the mother saw something we never would and abandoned it. Many species—many reasons.

Many species has what is called “social behaviors” that are passed down to their young. The example I use for “us humans” is a handshake. How many times have we seen a young child display some confusion over which hand to use? This is only because he doesn’t have that social behavior down pact in the brain, but when he does, it is as natural as breathing.

A female spider monkey will lactate for up to 24 to 30 months, depending on the sex. When she quits, the male will immediately leave her side and go to the other cohorts of the troop. The female will stay with her mother until she is sexually mature and leave the natal troop for another. Some biologists say this separation or sexual maturity doesn’t occur for as long as eight years.

The young female, being with her mother for this large amount of time will see a birth or two and also allows the social behavior of tending for their young will be passed on.

We knew we had at least two mature males and one mature female, but I did not anticipate them breeding in captivity. This morning during the tour, the caretaker for the titis came up holding an infant that had just been born, dropped by the mother and a male was attacking him on the ground.

People don’t realize the ramifications of taking a baby from the wild which eventually, if it is lucky, arrives at the Sanctuary. We have been accepting the mono titis (Central American Squirrel Monkey) in hopes to acquiring enough to form a troop.

We now have six (four males and two females) and I had great plans to release them during their next synchronized breeding period. Nothing is stronger than the will to reproduce to help them get out of the cage and into the wild.

Years ago, a conservation organization released six titis into the area. Neighbors were calling to tell me the females had given birth, but they had dropped the infants upon delivery.

We will make every effort to keep this little critter alive—its what we do.

But, more importantly, we need to get some professional help and that won’t be easy to find. I have written to Dr. Grace Wong Reyes of the National University in Heredia for assistance. Anyone that has connections with primatologists, zoo curators, biologists—please ask them to contact us at [email protected]

2017 Will be a challenge. Please stay tuned as we will keep you abreast of all the events.

There is still time to make a tax deductible donation for this year, it doesn’t take much time to press the PayPal icon below to make a 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!

Wish us luck! I think we are going to need it!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!