Back to Archives

March 3, 2002

Dear Friends of Jungle Friends,

Again, I apologize for the lack of communication; please know that you are always welcome to contact me directly for information regarding the monks or anything that is going on here at the sanctuary. We have just been so busy working to prepare for the NIH monkeys that we have hardly had time to breath, not to mention the on-going computer problems.

The Compassion for Animals Symposium went just great. Several of the folks on our Jungle News list attended and were able to visit Jungle Friends. One group even arrived here at 6:30 am to help serve the monkeys breakfast and see first hand what we are all about here at JF. We were able see old friends and meet new ones. We hope that more of our Jungle Friends family will be able to attend next year, we will be sure to post it months in advance again on the website and via the Jungle News posts.

A very special thanks again goes out to Animal Activists of Alachua for working non-stop to get the first habitat in our Expansion Project monkey-ready! The "Ahimsa Habitat" that is 20’ wide x 40’ long x 12’ high, is complete and now has Gizzy’s group (6 monkeys) enjoying the new space!

The Expansion Project will include six more of these large habitats. Christine Orman, our grant writer, is working on the grant proposal now; we welcome participation from our Jungle Friends family in our Sponsor-A-Habitat program. If you, your workplace, your community groups, foundations or anyone else is interested in this special project, please let me know and I will get you all of the information you will need to become involved. Each new habitat in the Expansion Project completed costs us $6000. The habitat will be named after its sponsor.

The Expansion Project also includes the NIH habitat. We have been working in the pouring rain for the past two days, but almost all of the panels are up now, by the end of the week we should be ready to put in the perches, platforms, swings and other fun things for the monks to play on. We are working desperately to meet our goal of having the NIH monkeys here by March 15, less than two weeks away, phew!

The NIH Monkeys, Aslan, Iko, Isuzu and Gizmo, seem to have two female monkeys in their group that we were not aware of. The lab asked us if we could take them with the rest of the group, as they have been together for years and, well, how could I say "no"?!?! You are right, I could not, sooooo, we will now be expecting Magic and Claire for a new total of six monkeys by mid month (for a grand total of 38). The grants we received did not include care for the monkeys after they arrive, so they will all need sponsors, if you have ever considered joining our Sponsor-A-Monkey program, now is the time! Magic and Claire will need special sponsors, as they may be pregnant, yikes! If the girls do give birth, we will be asking for sponsors and names for the newborns. The males, of course, will receive vasectomies prior to their arrival to JF; however, the monkeys were allowed to breed in the research they were doing. The manager at the lab tells me that Magic and Claire are good mothers and that the other males have shown no aggression toward the infants in the past, so we are very glad bout that.

Good and bad news on the Mobile Home Project...It is here!! And not a moment too soon, as Jackie, one of the on-site interns that will be residing in it after she graduates in May, is here now to work during her Spring Break. Unfortunately, she is not able to stay in it, as it is not quite ready for inspection. We are lacking the rest of the funds to put in the above ground septic ($1400 more after the soil test came back), hook up the power and water. We hope to raise the $5300 by the time Jackie returns, that is just two months away, however, if we do not reach that goal, she will double up in the Volunteer Center with the others until we can make it ready, we do however, need to get it accomplished before the 6 month time period lapses, as our permit will no longer be valid. PLEASE, if there is anyway you can help us with this project that would truly be appreciated!

Monkey Business: Gizmo seems to be fully recovered from his bout with Cancer, Rita is growing stronger everyday, Buddie is still doing well off insulin, however Connie has not been so fortunate, as we have had to double her insulin doses working toward getting her glucose back within normal limits. Bonnie has an abscessed upper molar and Cappy has a cracked tooth, so we are looking for Medical-Monkey-Sponsors for the trips to the vet school next week.

We are happy to announce that Lee and CJ will be joining Jungle Friend’s efforts to provide homes for monkeys in need, let’s hear it for Lee and CJ!! Lee, a vet technician, just completed our 1000-hour intern program and CJ, her partner, jumped right in to put her computer skills to work to help out with our complex needs. Their sanctuary, Koreymonde, will be specializing in white-faced capuchin monkeys. Lee and CJ will help with the ever-increasing demand for sanctuary care for these ex-pets.

We are very excited and moving forward on our "Born to be Wild" monkey island project, we will keep you posted as we progress.

Thank you in advance for your concern and commitment to these sentient beings! And feel free to pass this post onto anyone that may be interested.

Lots of monkey love,
Kari and the monks