I am very passionate about wildlife, and am exploring different potential career paths. I know I would like to do something involving wildlife conservation, so this internship sounded like the perfect fit for me to learn about wildlife rehabilitation and research. Within my first few days, I started getting worried. Firstly, there are virtually no protocols (at least none were presented) about how to properly care for the primates, what food and how much to give them, nor were there any on how to properly rehab/release them into the wild. One specific example: we are told the howlers get about 80-100% vegetables, and 0-20% fruit, and that you put it all “in the big Tupperware.” Not specific fruits and vegetables, not specific weights of food, but just the big bowl. There was also no research investigating whether the amounts were adequate and/or if what they were eating was appropriate, and I was told there hadn't been any research in the past 6+ months. I noticed that the monkeys didn’t forage as much as I expected, and that most of the time they would try and come down from the trees about an hour before feeding time and just wait for us to feed them. I made a few suggestions on how we could potentially increase their foraging time by slowly decreasing the amount we fed them over time. This would allow them to become more independent and eat more leaves. Of course, this new protocol would need to be monitored too. I have enough experience to understand that when changing procedures it is necessary that the new protocol is effectively monitored to see how a change in procedure affects (good or bad) the howlers. I also mentioned how we should look up different rehab efforts and write up specific protocols to give them the best chance at being successfully reintroduced to the wild. My suggestions were all met with an “it is what it is/meh/yeah maybe we could” attitude, with no action. What I learned was that it was very hard to change any of the procedures or simply try out potential changes because most ideas brought up to the directors, Seth Hopkins and Jolie Colby, were usually disregarded. It appeared that suggestions were viewed by them as accusations and they took advice very poorly, hopping on the defensive any chance they could get. I would not be so upset with the lack of change if the Sanctuary had historically had more positive outcomes. Two monkeys said to have been “successfully released into wild troops” still hung around the area we called the Triangle. This area had two enclosures, one holding the spider monkey, Luna, the other holding the capuchin, Zita. Two previously rehabbed and released monkeys (Nina, a howler and Ace, a capuchin) are always seen hanging around the enclosures when we go up to feed and socialize, and try to steal the food and enrichment given to the two captive monkeys. This would be what I would call a failed release. There have been a few primates which have died in the care of the Sanctuary (under the direction of Seth Hopkins and Jolie Colby). Here are a few examples: there were three tamarins (two females and one male) who were once in the care of a Steven Walker (the ORIGINAL starter of Alouatta Sanctuary: see the "Primates stealing primates?!" post for the story), but then in the care of the Seth Hopkins and Jolie Colby I was told the male tamarin died, for reasons I’m unsure of. I have also been told that the Sanctuary acquired four kinkajous, two of which attacked each other and died in the enclosure they were all put in. Shortly after, the other two were released. I asked about what procedures are used to decide when animals are ready to be released, and my question was not answered. It sounded rather willy-nilly, which is, in my opinion, not okay. I came here to give the best care to these primates while learning about how to rehab successfully and these processes were all very alarming. Stevie (the blind howler monkey) and Luna and Zita (the Triangle monkeys). I mentioned them previously but these three were the most worrisome in my opinion. Here, I will elaborate.
I am confident that there is still hope for some of these primates, but only if we take action and use teamwork. Submitted from Iowa, USA on 2/23/2016.
6 Comments
Steven Walker
5/4/2016 02:33:49 pm
Ill take all the monkeys and build special enclosures for any that need special care, I do have one very large enclosure ready made and will have my tamarinds back, we have all the care and also the diets written by Halit koshen an expert is this field as well as the vet in Panama city who has helped before. I did plan to build a super enclosure for spider monkeys as there are a few around needing a home and try to start a breeding colony. but this needs funds.We have always been open to inspection and we listen to comments, check us out at Alouatta lodge chorcha on facebook.
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Amy Maxey
5/4/2016 02:34:06 pm
Hey Steven!
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Steven Walker
5/4/2016 02:34:21 pm
Thanks Amy, please remember there is always a place for you to visit, that is sane and stable where we docare for the animals, you are most welcome, and I dont charge for you to stay ,just pay for your food . I am trying hard to get going but there is just me at the moment
Alouatta Sanctuary Review
5/4/2016 02:34:41 pm
That's sounds great, Steven.
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Steven Walker
5/4/2016 02:35:03 pm
I realize that and I am thinking of changing my name as to be not associated with Alouatta sanctuary, which is sad but I might have to do it.What do you think of "Howler monkey Hideaway"?
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Alouatta Sanctuary Review
5/4/2016 02:35:25 pm
We definitely think it would be wise to change the name as it will cause less confusion in the years to come. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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