Intern Mady: The Role of Spiritual Ecology in Animal Caregiving

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1 Increasingly, nature is considered a simple warehouse of resources to be extracted in order to not only meet basic human needs, but also to try to satisfy the apparently unlimited greed for profit of rampant predatory capitalism coupled with the associated modern fixation of many people and societies on materialism and consumerism. Ultimately such rapacious selfishness is no less than ecocidal for the biosphere and accordingly also suicidal for the human species. Dr. Leslie E. Sponsel Intern Mady: The Role of Spiritual Ecology in Animal Caregiving Spiritual Ecology, a discipline defined by Dr. Leslie Sponsel, is the study of how separate beings cohabitate in a state of ecological equilibrium and how important that state is to sustain life on our planet now and in the future. To maintain this equilibrium, we must think, work, and act in a way that serves all life around us, by maintaining a balance between what we give to, and take from, the planet. Spiritual Ecology is central to the work we do at Pacific Primate Sanctuary (PPS). As an animal caregiver, you must be completely open. You must be receptive to the needs of the monkeys, the Sanctuary, other team members, and yourself. By letting go of any preconceived notions you will not only gain an incredible amount of knowledge, but you will foster a much deeper connection with the monkeys. The ultimate goal of Pacific Primate Sanctuary is to offer New World Primates a safe haven where they will never have to endure pain and exploitation again. To understand how Spiritual Ecology informs us as caregivers, you must first understand how current worldviews have affected the monkeys that you will be caring for. Speciesism, the belief that humans are superior to all other species, is a commonly held view that has led to horrendous exploitation and abuse of nonhuman animals. The monkeys that came to PPS from research laboratories, the pet trade, and tourist attractions have been deeply impacted by the exploitive actions resulting from the practice of culturally consensual Speciesism. Animals in research laboratories endure appalling living conditions, spending their lives in cramped, barren cages, frequently either isolated or stacked on top of other cages, with no access to the outside, and often suffering through painful procedures. Despite studies that have shown the ineffectiveness of animal testing, the numbers of animals still being used in research are staggering. Independent scientific reviews have demonstrated that about % of the data that comes from animal studies fail to correlate with real solutions for human patients. 1 Animals in research laboratories often live in small, stacked cages in sterile, windowless rooms It is estimated that over 115 million animals are used every year worldwide for testing. This number does not include the estimated 90% of animals who are not reported on (i.e. purpose-bred rats, mice, amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates, and reptiles). 1

2 A member of an endangered species, cotton-top tamarin, Echo, arrived at PPS from a research laboratory in terrible condition. Her lip was torn and bloody, she was missing fingers and toes. It was clear that she had been neglected, mistreated, and traumatized. After becoming acculturated to the Sanctuary, Echo was paired with another ex-research cotton-top tamarin, Apollo, and the pair gave birth to a new generation of cotton-top tamarins as part of the Species Survival Plan. Unfortunately, Echo s life in the laboratory had not prepared her to raise her offspring. For decades, infants born in research laboratories were taken from their mothers at birth and hand reared by scientists to increase their survival rate. This destroyed the natural social Echo, an endangered cotton-top tamarin exploited by the research industry, was given refuge at PPS structure of primate colonies, and the families did not learn how to care for their offspring. When Echo first had babies, she became so agitated that she would bite at the fingers and toes of her infants who were riding on her back. The PPS team used behavioral conditioning to extinguish this behavior, and eventually, Echo learned to be a good mother and partner. At PPS, she was provided the opportunity to fully express her true natural behaviors, and live free from exploitation. Aeneas was a saddleback tamarin from the research industry. When he arrived at PPS he was curled up in a ball of pain, not moving and urinating blood. He didn t have a name, but instead had a number tattooed on his body, indicating that he was considered a commodity a numbered laboratory test subject, not an actual living, sentient being. At PPS, he was shown the world around him. He saw the sun and the trees, he got to feel the breeze and hear the life that now surrounded him. He was offered mashed bananas and fluids. He could only hang on just long enough to arrive, a survivor of untold suffering. After a few hours, he passed away in the caregiver s hands. His autopsy revealed that he died from liver flukes that, without treatment, had calcified over years of neglect. We are able to rehabilitate some animals from laboratories, while others face health issues or struggle to form healthy relationships with other monkeys for the rest of their lives. Animals arriving from research laboratories should be gradually and gently introduced to their new life at PPS. Often times, these monkeys have never seen sunlight, felt the rain, had a partner, or felt that they had possession of their own spaces. The most important thing you can do as a caregiver for a newly arrived monkey is to observe and understand. Listening to their vocalizations, and watching their behaviors as you interact with them, and then responding with empathy, compassion and respect is vital to helping animals from the research industry heal and begin to develop a sense of self. It may take months for them to acclimate to Sanctuary life before they are ready to be moved into their own outdoor enclosures. When Xylophone arrived at PPS from a research laboratory, she was thin and frightened, with matted and dirty fur Xylophone and her partner Fern, live in an outdoor Enclosure at PPS. Their coats have become thick and healthy, they have both gained weight, and become self assured monkeys

3 In addition to laboratories, the exotic pet trade is a significant threat to the species cared for at PPS. Images and videos spread through television, Internet, and social media misrepresent the realities of owning a wild animal, and have increased the demand for exotic pets in the United States and around the world. Thousands of animals are sold through the exotic pet trade every year. Many of these animals are classified as surplus animals animals that zoos and breeders deem no longer profitable. The exotic animal pet trade is the second largest illegal industry, coming after the illegal drug trade in the US. 2 Trafficking in rare and exotic wildlife is a global business, worth $10-20 billion annually. These animals are often kept in horrible conditions akin to the conditions of some laboratories being separated from their mother much too early, and kept in tiny cages until they are bought by someone looking for a cute, fuzzy pet to play with. People buying exotic pets often do minimal research on the species they are buying. Their new pets don t receive the proper nutrition, living environment, or social stimulation to lead the life they are meant to live. Exotic pet owners are often surprised when the pet becomes territorial and aggressive as he/she reaches sexual maturity or self-mutilates due to boredom, unresolved frustration, and agitation. The monkeys that made it to PPS after being a part of the exotic pet trade are some of the toughest to rehabilitate due to the unnatural relationships they have formed with humans, and their inability to communicate or interact normally with their own species. Pacey is a marmoset that came to PPS from the pet trade. He was bought, from an animal dealer, at a very young age (long before he would have been weaned by his mother), by a newlywed couple that didn t understand the consequences of having a pet marmoset. This couple had a young boy and decided to add Pacey to their family. As an infant, Pacey was cute and cuddly just what they had expected. However, once he started to reach sexual maturity, he behaved accordingly. He was territorial, protective and not shy to express his dislike towards certain things. He became distressed and aggressive, and he bit his owners son. The wife contacted PPS requesting placement for their pet monkey, when she finally realized that they were unable to provide the right environment for Pacey. When he arrived he did not have marmoset language. He didn t understand how to behave like a monkey, and had never heard or seen another monkey before. At PPS, he was surrounded by other marmosets who greeted him and vocalized repeatedly. Pacey didn t respond to the monkeys but was fixated on his human caregivers. They made a deliberate effort to redirect his attention by providing for his needs, but avoiding reinforcing aberrant behavior. Pacey was placed in an outdoor enclosure where he could leap and climb on real plants and branches. He began to learn how to vocalize and communicate like the other monkeys. He slowly acquired many primate skills and after several years, he was even able to have a mate, Vida. He groomed Vida in the sun, and eventually shared a sleeping cube with her. Sadly, Vida passed away, and Pacey has not yet accepted another mate. Although he has come a long way from the mute, agitated monkey he was when he arrived, Pacey still suffers from the long lasting effects of the pet trade. He is easily distressed and nervous around new caregivers. He is very unpredictable, and has a history of biting when agitated. He continues to have difficulties interacting with other monkeys. Macaco, another marmoset at PPS who was formerly a pet, was caught in the wild and given to a young boy who tried very hard, for close to a decade, to give him what he needed as a monkey. However, the family could not provide a natural life for a marmoset. Macaco did not receive the proper nutrition as a young monkey, which stunted his growth, and may have caused his curved legs. He has also failed to establish many natural, healthy behaviors like self-grooming, and he relies on caregivers for weekly grooming. Like Pacey, Macaco does not know how to respond or behave around other monkeys, often attempting to establish abnormal relationships with humans instead of a potential monkey partner. Once a pet, Macaco now lives in an outdoor Enclosure at PPS Monkeys coming from the exotic pet trade will typically need special individual care for the rest of their lives, and are generally Intern-Only monkeys. The goal at PPS is to allow them to live as naturally as

4 possible hopefully with a partner. It is incredibly gratifying when a compromised monkey finally learns to trust their caregivers, and will accept care without fear or aggression. Some may even solicit grooming or affection. It is important to remember that while encouraging this trust for basic care, one should not encourage interactions that may hinder the individual s chances of bonding with another monkey (which is, of course, the objective). As a caregiver, it is important to be open to what the monkey needs without compromising the monkey s journey to become who they really are. Spiritual Ecology emphasizes the importance of keeping an ecological equilibrium, where one gives as much as they take. By listening, observing and focusing on what the monkeys truly need, instead of our own wishes and desires, the monkeys are provided with the natural life that they were never given the opportunity to experience. Author and activist Alice Walker wrote: The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites or women for men. Internalizing this concept is crucial to preserving animal rights. Animals have been exploited and objectified by humans for centuries. They have been used as inanimate objects in the name of medical progress, as pets - at the sacrifice of the animal s wellbeing, and as moneymaking lures, forced to perform unnatural behaviors in horrendous conditions in tourist attractions. Tourist attractions can include: a roadside zoo, a hotel s monkey island exhibit, circuses, and even something as simple as a person on the side of the road charging to take your picture with an animal. Animals in these settings are often not provided with proper nutrition, medical care, an appropriate environment, enrichment, or social interactions with members of their own species. Animal-centered tourist attractions promote Speciesism, the belief that other beings are worth less than we are, making it acceptable to exploit them. Through the teachings of Spiritual Ecology, one sees this is not a sustainable belief. Spiritual Ecology teaches that all beings are inter-related, of equal value and, in their natural state, critical to maintaining the Earth s equilibrium. When humans place monetary values on other beings and use them for personal gain, a negative chain reaction begins, disrupting this equilibrium. Fortunately, places like PPS exist, where all beings are considered equal and allowed to live in a balance with each other. Miranda, a capuchin monkey, who came to PPS from the pet trade, had been purchased by a hotel for its new tourist attraction. She was taken from her mother in the wild at a very young age. She was sold to an entrepreneur in Hawai i and was destined to become a part of a hotel s new monkey island, a tourist destination. She was kept alone, in a tiny cage and became unfit for the attraction when she continuously pulled her hair out and selfmutilated due to severe distress. When she was close to death, she was donated to PPS. Miranda upon arrival at PPS We built a large enclosure for her with ropes, plants, and branches for her to climb on. She slowly began to recover, to trust her Miranda after five months at PPS caregivers at PPS, listening to them singing softly, while they provided for her needs, with respect. Her hair grew back and her eyes lit up. Eventually, a male was given refuge at PPS and was introduced into her Enclosure. Miranda thrived and soon gave birth to Miracle. She cared for Miracle without having had any experience as a mother. Miranda nursed her, carried her for longer than necessary, cared for and protected her. Being a mother was an important part of Miranda s rehabilitation and healing.

5 Carlos and Montana are two spider monkey brothers who were kept at a local zoo and then a tourist attraction before coming to PPS. They were born at the Honolulu Zoo, transferred to the Maui Zoo, and then moved to a tourist venue, where they were kept in a small enclosure with no natural foliage or areas to get away from tourists. They were placed in between a train station and the dining room. Every day, large groups of tourists would be transported in buses to the site and people would crowd around the brothers small enclosure. They were taunted and subjected to visitors all day. They were also surrounded by constant noise and had no private place to hide away. A floodlight shined on them all night. Carlos and Montana lived in a small barren cage at a tourist attraction The business changed ownership and the new owner didn t want Carlos and Montana. The options he considered were: finding a place that would house the brothers without costing him much, or euthanasia. Fortunately, PPS was contacted, and immediately began the process of transferring Carlos and Montana to the Sanctuary. We constructed a beautiful enclosure with lots of trees, branches, rope, shade, and sun for the spider monkeys to thrive in. Prior to their arrival, Sanctuary staff treated them for worms that, after years of neglect had caused them to have prolapsed rectums. Montana also has poor dentition from poor nutrition and care. At PPS, they have been able to brachiate for the first time in their lives, going hand over hand in their 40-foot long enclosure. There are tall ledges for them to sit on and look out over the peaceful hills in the sun. They are offered an appropriate diet with added healthy treats like fresh fruit and vegetables. They now vocalize towards their caregivers as if we are a part of their group, and are quick to greet familiar faces with positive behaviors. Due to their history, Carlos and Montana are easily distressed and can be unpredictable around new caregivers. We train new caregivers to keep their distance, and do not have more than two caregivers at a time caring for them. Carlos and Montana can become distressed by hosing, so this is the very last enclosure that new caregivers are trained to clean. Only experienced managers can enter the enclosure for maintenance with Carlos and Montana present. These brothers endured a lot at the zoo and the tourist attraction, and we are gratified to be able to offer them compassionate care and a home, where they can express their natural behaviors, and live in peace and safety. As caregivers at the Sanctuary we have the opportunity and responsibility to give the monkeys what they need to live as naturally and free from stress, as possible. The monkeys needs differ depending on their history. We pair the monkeys we can with partners who will hopefully groom, offer warmth on cold mornings and nights, and provide companionship as these monkeys are very social beings. We construct jungle walkways and lay down padding for monkeys with mobility issues. We offer extra heat lamps and blankets for older monkeys needing more warmth. At PPS, Carlos and Montana live in a lush enclosure, where they are able to brachiate for the first time There are many different ways we help each individual, but it all starts by opening up and listening to the monkeys. An excellent example of this is Abraham, a geriatric black-tufted marmoset that has become the resident bachelor at PPS. Although pairing attempts were made, he seemed to be

6 much more content alone which goes against the typical understanding that primates are exceptionally social mammals. By observing Abe with other monkeys and respecting his preferences, Abe has had an individual, satisfying life at the Sanctuary. PPS, and similar refuges, exist to serve the animals. We believe that animals are our equals, deserving of compassion, respect and understanding. By keeping an open mind and an appreciative, selfless attitude as a PPS volunteer, you and the monkeys will equally benefit from all PPS has to offer. The Kerulos Center writes: We emphasize the need to support beauty animal aesthetics, philosophy, values, and meaning. Recognizing the importance of beauty is a way to counter modern humanity s tendencies to render life into things that have meaning and power for humans alone beauty reminds us that there is something greater than the collation of facts and data. 3 Works Cited 1. _donoracq16_040116_footer_web_id The Dirty Side of the Exotic Animal Pet Trade Animal Issues, Volume 34 Number 2. June 15, HAWAIIAN VALUES The Hawaiian ancestors adhered to a set of values that guided their daily lives. These beliefs and principles have been passed on, through the generations, and are still an important part of traditional Hawaiian society today. In this, and ongoing issues of Primate Update, we explore how the Sanctuary embodies traditional Hawaiian perspectives and practices. Na auao means intelligence and wisdom. The na au are literally the guts, which the Hawaiians believe to be the seat of thought, of intellect and the affections. The word na au is also used to mean instinct or a person s gut-level feelings and intuition. In English, a similar comparison would be the brain or mind. Na auao combines na au, seat of thought or mind, and ao, or daylight. So the term literally means the daylight mind, or the enlightened mind. At Pacific Primate Sanctuary, we strive to continually enhance our knowledge and wisdom. The more we know and understand about the primates in our care, the better we can provide for their needs. We are constantly learning and growing, as new information becomes available, and as new minds analyze information. Resident Interns review relevant text books and articles and prepare special topics to share with the Volunteers and supporters every month. In addition, each Intern selects an area to focus and do research on for their Indpendent Intern Project. Subject matter varies widely and the Interns have the opportunity to delve deeply into new areas of interest and importance to PPS, then make the information accessible to the rest of the team. This results in regularly updated PPS Manual documents and Animal Care protocol. Mady and Amanda presenting Pacific Primate Sanctuary s environmental education program We also see value in sharing the knowledge we have gained with the community, and offer free environmental education programs to students. Intern Mady and Assistant Manager Rachel recently updated our Be a Primate Pal program, and offered an exciting presentation to a local school.

7 At Pacific Primate Sanctuary, na auao is an important part of providing skilled, appropriate and compassionate care. We work to continually improve and increase our knowledge, because we know that the animals and the planet will benefit from enlightened minds. Help Pacific Primate Sanctuary Earn our 2016 Badge! Volunteers and Supporters, We Need Your Help. If you love our work, then tell the world! You have an opportunity to help us make an even bigger difference in our community. GreatNonprofits the #1 Source of Nonprofit Stories and Feedback is honoring highly regarded nonprofits with their 2016 Top-Rated List. Won t you help us boost visibility for our work by posting a brief personal story of your experience with PPS? All content will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It s easy and only takes 3 minutes! Go to: 1. Click the orange Write a Review button 2. Write a short description of why you choose to volunteer and support PPS, what you value most about the work you are doing here, and what you appreciate most about the Sanctuary. 3. Below the description there is a dropdown for you to indicate your role at the Sanctuary. 4. Then simply select the I m not a robot box and post your 5-star review. HOW YOU CAN HELP the MONKEYS at PPS Donating to Pacific Primate Sanctuary can be as simple as doing an Internet search! Visit GoodSearch.com and designate Pacific Primate Sanctuary as your charity of choice, and get started using this philanthropic program. Each time you do a search using GoodSearch, a small contribution will be made to PPS! Larger donations are made to PPS when you order from one of the many participating online stores, using GoodShop. GoodShop GoodShop is THE go-to place to find all those coupon codes and promo codes on the web for thousands of stores from The Gap, Best Buy, Expedia, Target, Apple and more! So, don t ever miss a chance to save a bit of money. PLUS, when you shop through Goodshop, a percentage of what you spend is donated to Pacific Primate Sanctuary!

8 AmazonSmile AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Pacific Primate Sanctuary every time you shop at Amazon, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to PPS. Go to smile.amazon.com, and select Pacific Primate Sanctuary as your charity, or you can click on the following link: If you use Google Chrome as your web browser, you can get the free SmileAlways extension that will automatically redirect all Amazon pages to Amazon Smile! This means that you don t have to go to the smile website every time you want to shop at Amazon. Find out more here: Give the Gift of Your Service and Volunteer Your Time We are currently in need of more local Volunteers! We need Animal Caregivers, Handy People, and Gardeners/Landscapers. Retirees are welcome. If you live on Maui and are interested in becoming one of Pacific Primate Sanctuary s Angels, by volunteering your time and skills, please pacificprimatesanctuary@gmail.com How to Contribute Directly We rely on and deeply appreciate your continued partnership. Please make tax-deductible donations to the Sanctuary on our Website: and on FaceBook, using PayPal, or by sending a check to: Pacific Primate Sanctuary 500-A Haloa Road Haiku, HI Malama Ola the Monkeys and help us provide food, medicine and supplies for the monkeys at Pacific Primate Sanctuary and contribute to the care of the Beings with whom we share the Earth! PPS NEWS Pacific Primate Sanctuary Assistant Manager Program We have had so much success with our Internship Program that we have been able to expand the residency to offer an Assistant Manager position, with new Yurt housing facilitated by our partner, Joani. After completing a year-long Internship, an Intern may be given the opportunity to remain in residence and participate in the operation and management of PPS. This position is offered to Interns who have excelled in all other areas of the Internship, and are interested in extending their stay. The Assistant Manager gains valuable administrative skills, including volunteer coordination, staff education and supervision, documentation, record keeping oversight, and fundraising experience. Amanda was a Resident Intern from August 2014 to June 2015, and returned from September 2015 through May 2016 as the first PPS Assistant Manager. In her role as Assistant Manager, Amanda was responsible for coordinating the PPS Volunteer Program, creating the monthly schedule, and helping to supervise the staff. Most notably, Amanda reviewed, revised, and reorganized the PPS Medical, Procedures, Intern, and Management Manuals, and included indices. She updated and reformatted all of the monkeys Medical Records, another monumental task, which greatly improved our communication with the veterinarians and our ability to access the most relevant information.

9 Amanda created ethograms, (categories or inventories of behaviors or actions exhibited by animals), and vocalization recordings to help the staff identify and understand primate behavior and communication. She developed innumerable new systems, to keep the sanctuary organized, efficient, and operating at the highest level. Amanda also updated Pacific Primate Sanctuary s Be a Primate Pal curriculum and presented the PPS environmental education program, with Intern Mady, to elementary school students. In addition, Amanda coordinated the Flatbread Fundraiser last year, which was an enormous success. PPS raised a record $2,228 at this benefit. In her farewell letter, Amanda writes: Amanda coordinated the successful PPS Fundraiser I chose the PPS Internship because it seemed a great opportunity to gain hands on experience caring for primates in an environment focused on quality of care. My expectations were fairly simple and the experience definitely exceeded those expectations. The PPS Internship is unique in that you have the opportunity to learn about a few species of primates, work directly with them learning husbandry, behavioral conditioning, basic medical care, and colony management. You gain general knowledge that is applicable to any position working closely with primates, but also gain in depth knowledge of each individual living at the sanctuary. The responsibility you feel for each individual that is under your care develops a relationship with each of them that is unique and really gratifying. I was surprised at how much training is given to Interns and at the amount of medical care skills that were taught. I expected to learn some of these skills in a theoretical capacity, but the emergency care training section of the Internship was much more extensive and practical than I imagined it would be. I was given freedom to explore different projects that I thought would benefit the Sanctuary. As an Intern, I helped maintain the PPS Manuals and I worked on an identification binder that had a page for each individual. It included a photo and brief description for each module of the Internship. The first focusing on species, age, sex, and brief physical description to help new staff distinguish between partners. The second for emergency care: medical history, current medications or dietary needs, and average weight. The third included social history and housing requirements for colony management. Participation in this Internship has made me a more competitive candidate for positions working with primates in many capacities. It has also given me more concrete ideas about what kind of work I want to be doing long term and helped me come to understand the differences between different kinds of organizations that work with animals. I really do love the small family sanctuary type atmosphere, both for the working environment and the focus on animal care without the public exhibition element present in zoo internships that may have similar husbandry training. During my Internship I was asked to begin working as an Assistant Manager for PPS. I have gained really valuable experience and confidence in animal care, sanctuary management, fundraising, and education outreach in this position. I really do feel like this experience has shaped my goals and enabled me to be better suited to those goals. I want to give a sincere thank you to Lucy and Erin for selecting me initially as an Intern and then as Assistant Manager. Erin I really value you fostering my growth within PPS by providing me a good balance between guidance and freedom. Lucy your decades of commitment to the monkeys in your care and your investment in each Intern that passes through PPS is moving and will stay with me. I already miss your loving and forthright nature.

10 I want to also thank the Interns I had the pleasure to work with. The two teams were filled with lovely people who created a family that worked together dedicating a year of their lives, and love, to these monkeys and you all, along with these monkeys, will hold a special place in my heart. And a thank you to the Volunteers, some who have dedicated years and years to the Sanctuary. You really do have such a positive impact on the monkeys and also the rest of the staff. PPS Assistant Manager Amanda (second from right) with Resident Interns (pictured left to right) Rachel, Jordan, Mady and Paolina It will be difficult to not wake up each day in my yurt surrounded by bamboo and the sounds of marmosets, to not be greeted with Carlos whinny daily, only after the weeks it took to initially win him over, but the Sanctuary will always be with me and I look forward to establishing ways to stay involved and up to date with all the monkeys. This community of people, all volunteering their lives, is one that will surely strongly and positively impact anyone that comes into contact with it. The service and love here are powerful and provide the best quality of life to this group of monkeys. Assistant Manager, Amanda, has made outstanding, significant and enduring contributions to the Sanctuary, and she will always be a part of the Pacific Primate Sanctuary Community. We are so glad that we are now able to offer this advanced training to PPS Resident Interns, and look forward to training the next Assistant Manager. The PPS Resident Internship and Assistant Manager programs would not be possible without the support of compassionate individuals. Please help us to keep this program going by making a taxdeductible donation on our website: CONTINUING EDUCATION Special Topic: Intern Paolina Marmosets and Tamarins: Systematics, Behaviour, and Ecology Chapter 13: Feeding ecology and behaviour of the genus Saguinus The taxonomically diverse genus Saguinus represents a group of New World primates that have successfully exploited a great variety of forest habitats in western Panama and throughout the Amazon Basin of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and northern Brazil. This genus contains three main groups, (hairy-face taxa, mottled-face taxa, and bare-face taxa), 11 species, and 29 recognized subspecies of tamarins. The combination of features displayed by these tamarins appears to reflect adaptations specific to a particular ecological niche. The assortment of tamarin home ranges includes primary forests (forests of native tree species), secondary forests (forests that re-grew after a major disturbance), edge vegetation, swamps, inundated (or flooded) areas, and tree fall gaps, illustrating that a mix of forest types is a vital to tamarin ecology. This necessity for microhabitat diversity reflects differences in the seasonal and spatial distribution of food sources, and the means by which tamarins utilize their environment.

11 The tamarin diet primarily consists of insects, ripe fruits, exudates, and nectar. Such food sources differ in their nutritional content, seasonal availability, and the locations or microhabitats they inhabit within the forest. Floral nectar and plant exudates represent a year-round food source, unlike insects and ripe fruits. During the dry season, tamarins focus their efforts on capturing insect prey, relying on stealth to locate a small number of large insects to satisfy their daily nutritional requirements. Compared to the rest of the year, tamarins spent majority of the dry season months of July to September foraging for insects. Orthopterans (grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids) represent a relatively stable food source and constituted a large proportion of their insect consumption. Since large, adult orthopterans can survive the dry seasons, they offer a high-quality resource during a food-limited time of year. Otherwise, tamarins feed mainly on ripe fruit for most of the year. Foraging efforts are concentrated on numerous trees from a few tree species, ultimately resulting in small, widely scattered feeding sites within their home ranges. Overlapping home ranges of tamarin groups means that the ability to defend major feeding sites is an important factor in tamarin ecology. The ecological success and large geographic distribution of saddleback tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis), the smallest and most behaviorally flexible tamarin species, can be attributed to their predisposition of forming mixedspecies troops with moustached tamarins (Saguinus mystax), red-bellied tamarins (Saguinus labiatus), emperor tamarins (Saguinus imperator), black-mantled tamarins (Saguinus nigricollis), and silvery marmosets (Callithrix argentata) as a method of territorial defense. The troop benefits as a whole when different species, that are not in direct breeding competition with one another, unite to cooperatively defend important resources. Furthermore, a year-long field investigation of mixedspecies troops of moustached and saddleback tamarins in the Amazon Basin of north-eastern Peru revealed them to be reliable seed dispersal agents for a number of tree species. Thus, in exploiting their environment, tamarins simultaneously affect the composition, distribution, and regeneration patterns of the Amazon rainforest. Xylophone hunts for bugs, meticulously searching through plant leaves Galatea in her outdoor Enclosure Pacific Primate Sanctuary (PPS) is no stranger to the feeding ecology and behavior of tamarins, which compose a sizeable portion of its primate population. One of its oldest callitrichid residents is Galatea, a 20-year-old saddleback tamarin that came from a research laboratory. Her longevity attests to how the primates at PPS thrive when they are nurtured and rehabilitated from their trauma. Far from the laboratory she once lived in, Galatea now has the pleasure of eating a variety of fresh fruits and expressing normal, tamarin behaviors within a naturalistic setting. True to her tamarin nature, her distinct complex calls ripple throughout the Sanctuary as she spends most of her days in the outdoor portion of her enclosure, where she can sometimes be seen manipulatively searching for sedentary prey hidden within the understory of the foliage in her greenroom.

12 Galatea, along with many other fortunate primates at PPS, lives in a green world free from abuse, suffering, and exploitation at human hands. Works Cited: Garber, Paul A. Feeding ecology and behaviour of the genus Saguinus. Marmosets and Tamarins: Systematics, Behaviour, and Ecology. Ed. Anthony B. Rylands. New York: Oxford University Press Inc., Print. Garber, Paul A. The ecology of seed dispersal in two species of callitrichid primates (Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis). American Journal of Primatology 10.2 (1986): Web. 4 July <doi: /ajp > Peres, Carlos A. Diet and feeding ecology of saddle-back (Saguinus fuscicollis) and moustached (S. mystax) tamarins in an Amazonian terra firme forest. Journal of Zoology (1993): Web. 4 July <doi: /j tb02707.x> Special Topic: Intern Rachel Spider Monkeys: Behavior, Ecology and Evolution of the Genus Ateles Chapter 6: Spider monkeys as seed dispersers Fruit-eating primates play an important role in seed dispersal within their forest habitat. The association between a fruiting plant and its seed dispersers is known as dynamic mutualism, a type of relationship wherein two organisms from different species benefit from the activity of the other. For example, fruitbearing trees are immobile, so sending their offspring across the rainforest requires them to rely on frugivorous (fruiteating) organisms such as spider monkeys. In order to attract spider monkeys, and other frugivores, the seeds are encased in delicious, fleshy, nutritious fruits. Spider monkeys use the fruit of the plant for food, while the plant depends on the spider monkey to carry the next generation of its species, in the form of seeds, in their gut until they can be expelled in feces, at which time the seed germinates and grows. This method of seed dispersal is known as endozoochory. Overall, this relationship is mutually beneficial for both parties as the fruit-bearing plant has the opportunity to spread its seeds, while the spider monkey is able to consume the fruits as a nutritious food source. Spider monkeys are viewed as being among the most important seed-dispersing animals in the New World. They comprise between 25% and 40% of the frugivore biomass in tropical forests by eating large quantities of fruit and then defecating viable seeds. As many as 75% of tropical tree species produce fruits adapted for animal dispersal, and animals, including spider monkeys, are estimated to move more than 95% of tropical seeds. Some tropical trees that provide fruit for spider monkeys include avocados, passion fruit, soursop, coconuts, figs, citrus, bananas and mangos. The Spider Monkeys at PPS receive a wide fresh fruits, similar to what they would eat in the wild

13 At Pacific Primate Sanctuary (PPS), the resident spider monkeys, Carlos and Montana, demonstrate the role of primates in seed dispersal. They receive whole, fleshy, nutritious, seed-bearing fruits, as well as certain types of nuts and seeds (e.g. peanuts, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, etc.) in their daily diet. Some examples of subtropical fruits with seeds are papaya, sour sop, and mangos, the same fruits that they would eat in the wild. Seeds can be found in their feces, and it is not uncommon to see tomato or sunflower sprouts coming up within their outdoor Enclosure. This is a clear example of the fruitdispersing role that Spider Monkeys play in their habitats. Many of the fruits that Carlos and Montana receive are grown on-site and provide the monkeys with food items that are appropriate to their natural diets. By promoting subtropical rain forests plants for the spider monkeys we can more closely replicate their native forests, and encourage natural habits and behaviors. Works Cited: Barber, Paula A., and Joanna E. Lambert. "Introduction to Primate Seed Dispersal." Academia.edu. American Journal of Primatology, n.d. Web. 08 July Campbell, Christina J. Spider Monkeys: The Biology, Behavior, and Ecology of the Genus Ateles (Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology). UK. Cambridge University Press Champion, Colin A., and Sabrina E. Russo. "Primate Seed Dispersal: Linking Behavioral Ecology with Forest Community Structure." Ecology (2005): Web. 07 July The present urgency is to begin thinking within the context of the whole planet, the integral earth community with all its human and other-than-human components. ~Thomas Berry We hope you have enjoyed this issue of Pacific Primate Sanctuary s E-Newsletter. Thank you for your support of our life giving work. Because of compassionate people, the Sanctuary can continue to provide a place of peace and happiness for primates saved from research laboratories, animal dealers, and tourist attractions. Here they can heal, form social groups, and live free from exploitation.