Watermelon feast
Although there was a slight chance of rain this week, it remained hot and dry. There was no more nutritious or refreshing way to deal with the hot June afternoons here in South Texas than to hand out watermelons. We were fortunate to receive a number of yellow ones this week much to everyone’s delight. Although not enough for 500 monkeys, those individuals living in the semi-natural enclosures all enjoyed large slices. For everyone else, there weren’t too many complaints as we had plenty of strawberries to go around.
Enjoying water
In their natural habitat, many primate species will swim and play in water. Yet, for most monkeys in research laboratories, the only water they know is in the form of a small tube that must be licked in order to get a small amount of water at a time.
Enjoying their new life
The longtail macaques retired from a laboratory have been with us for more than five weeks. It has been wonderful to watch the progress they have made during that time. They now spend their afternoons relaxing, grooming each other, sleeping and lazing around in the water and mud. Some will just sit in the wet mud pools we make for them and splash around, fascinated with the water. After years of living under laboratory conditions, it is great to see how much they are enjoying their new environment.
Mesquite bounty
It has been a hot and humid week, broken up with an unfortunately brief shower of rain. As a result, spending time in the water and eating ice cubes have been popular past times for many of the monkeys. For others, the availability of mesquite beans has been enthusiastically welcomed.
More than just monkeys
One of the things I enjoy most about living at the Sanctuary is our rural location and the fact that we share our land with many other fascinating wildlife including deer, turkeys, pigs, armadillos, snakes, raccoons, and skunks. Snakes usually keep to areas where there is little human activity so we only get to see them once in a while. This weekend, however, was an exception — a male and female bullsnake spent the morning going through a mating ritual in our compound area. It was wonderful to watch these individuals, each almost five feet long, seemingly oblivious to our presence as they writhed and slithered along.
Settling in
The longtail macaques who arrived from a research laboratory are making good progress. Although still cautious, the monkeys are visibly more relaxed in their new surroundings. They are playing with and chasing each other. There is a lot of play biting and grooming taking place which is so nice to watch. This week I have noticed that they are spending more time in the water. Many of them enjoy splashing around in the mud and water after their water troughs have been emptied. As a result, I have started to make mud puddles for them during the hot afternoons. They get very excited and gather around to drink, splash, or simply sit in the water.
New arrivals at the Sanctuary
It has been a very hectic, but rewarding week. A group of 31 longtail macaques just arrived from a laboratory that has discontinued using nonhuman primates in research. Watching them gradually adapt to life outside a laboratory cage has been extremely moving. Although initially overwhelmed by their new surroundings, they are now settling in well, enjoying the sun, climbing and digging in the soil.
Sad News
It is with mixed feelings that I write this week’s Primate Posting. Sadly, Holly, one of the female baboons has died.
Considering Holly's horrible start in life (she was used in laboratory drug addiction experiments), it is remarkable that she lived to such an age (around 28 years). I was comforted by the knowledge that for the last few years of her life she lived in a natural environment, far removed from the metal bars of a laboratory cage. She also had the companionship of other baboons, in particular Boon, a male who lived with her in their own enclosure attached to the free range baboon enclosure.
Cooling down in the sun
Yet another good delivery of fresh produce this week — lots of soft fruit such as peaches, mangos, nectarines, grapes, and pluots. It’s a real treat to feed the baboons the day after our delivery. They are always keen to see what is new on the menu and get very excited vocalizing to each other if they see a particularly favored item.
Maude and Elsie enjoy their new life
Maude and Elsie, the two rhesus macaques who were recently retired from the research industry, continue to do well. They are socializing with monkeys in neighboring enclosures. Elsie is the more active of the two and enjoys having a lively “discussion” with a young male snow monkey. She has also developed a strong rapport with another female macaque and it is heartwarming to watch them grooming each other.
