November 2023 Newsletter
November brought a wave of new faces to the jungle, and this time, it wasn’t just our furry friends. While we welcomed human visitors, the youngest among us—both two-legged and four-legged—stole the show.
Animals
Our newest woolly family member, Coya, is adapting to life outside with the monkey group. Raised by humans, she’s learning the ropes with the help of our charismatic male, Mister Moyo. We’re hopeful that Coya’s interactions with her fellow monkeys will pave the way for her seamless integration into the free-roaming group.
The large-headed capuchins kicked off birth season early, with Kuymi becoming a mother at just 5 years old. Her best friend, Daytona, is on standby, perhaps awaiting her turn. Nikita, a capuchin who has been with us since 2014, also welcomed a new addition to the family.
Maida, the female howler monkey, has been growing up fast and asserting her dominance over the group. Darwin, the adult male, is relishing the attention from outside visitors, and Maida even attempts to join in on the howling fun!
Representatives from the Ministry of Fauna and Flora guided the start of the release of several yellow-footed tortoises, capuchins, tamarins, and a squirrel monkey. The tortoises were successfully reintegrated into the forest, with ongoing health checks to ensure their well-being.
Pataku the male paca was moved for a soft release to an outside enclosure suurounding the cabin for the assistant-manager Arthur and veterinarian Carlotta.
Susy Utzinger Orphan Animal Hospital
Kaluha, a juvenile woolly monkey, faced an emergency and, despite immediate treatment, succumbed to a heavy infestation of once again Prosthenorchis Elegans. This parasite forms one of our biggest challenges we face to keep the woolly monkey group healthy. We also mourn the loss of Chiquita, an 8-year-old woolly monkey. Her body was found more than a day after her passing which made it hard to comprehend why.
Two released tortoises underwent a thorough check-up, and Panchin, a frequent visitor to the clinic, is receiving care for giardia before returning to the wild.
Quarantine
With all the releases going on, the quarantine got a bit more empty, leaving only Medusa, the Harris´s hawk, the roadside hawk Garuda and most of the parrots left.
We introduced Drana, the only yellow-crowned Amazon, to Zuna (of the same species) in the smaller Elmo front enclosure. It took them only one day to become friends and sleep next to each other.
Construction & other
Arthur and Carlotta are settling into their new cabin. Daily maintenance continues, with an eye on long-term projects to support the growing monkey group.
Thanks to the initiative of the United for Animals Association (UPA), the 1st meeting of Rescue Centers of Peru took place at the Amazon Shelter and Taricaya rescue centres in Puerto Maldonado-Madre Dios. Eight rescue centres participated: Pilpintuwasi, CREA, Hoja Nueva, Esperanza Verde, URKU, Amazon Shelter, Isla de los Monos, and Taricaya. Also present were representatives of Serfor Lima; Director Enrique Michaud and Patricia Ríos. Many important issues for the conservation of wildlife species in captivity were addressed. It was a very successful meeting for everyone involved, getting to know each other and sharing experiences. We hope this meeting will be the first of many more in the future, putting our heads together in the fight for animals. Thank you to UPA for making it possible, to Latam airlines for getting us there and safely home again, and Amazon Shelter and Taricaya Centre for the hospitality, accommodations, and delicious food.
Volunteers life
November saw a record-breaking six new volunteers in one week. The team has quickly adapted to their roles, creating a bustling kitchen reminiscent of a restaurant on Friday nights.
And while Olivia was safe in Madre Dios… The water took charge of the volunteer house at Esperanza Verde. Luckily, flooding only happens once every 10 years. Thanks to Douwes’ prediction, everyone worked together to move all the beds, books, and personal items to the attic. The volunteers camped out for the night under the roof. The next day, all they had to do was clean up all the mud that the water so “kindly” left behind.
