Carli, a 6½-year-old brown capuchin, arrived at Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary on October 3, 2009. Carli was originally purchased as a ‘service monkey’ for a young girl named Lauren who suffered with paraplegia from a car accident. Although the humans provided more service for the monkey than vice versa, they loved Carli very much. After Lauren’s sudden death, Lauren’s mother was determined to find the best possible home for Carli. The home she selected, of course, was Jungle Friends. Dr. Beasley, Carli’s veterinarian, drove Carli cross-country to her new Jungle Friends home.

Carli arrived with a dowry! Not only has a new outdoor habitat and indoor building been purchased for Carli at Jungle Friends, Carli’s generous gift in memory of Lauren also paid for a new building to shelter other monkeys in need! The building will be placed at Koreymonde Capuchin Rescue, a small sanctuary that works closely with Jungle Friends. Carli also brought loads of toys with her, and boxes are still arriving in the mail carrying more toys and other items needed here at Carli’s new sanctuary home.

Carli is very inquisitive and, as Lauren’s mother Carolyn will tell you, the most beautiful monkey at Jungle Friends! Surprisingly, Carli’s first new animal friend at the sanctuary was Potter, a neighbor dog who has adopted Jungle Friends as his second home. As soon as Carli spied Potter, she ran down to him and started lip smacking! They have quite a relationship… she is very gentle with Potter, caressing and grooming him. In play, she will grab his toys right out of his mouth and Potter doesn’t mind a bit. He is really taken with his new monkey pal.

Carli is also very fond of the humans at Jungle Friends, and she has also started taking an interest in the monkeys surrounding her. Of course, her monkey neighbors are most eager to meet the most attractive monkey at Jungle Friends! It looks like our new girl will get her pick of many suitors… and a little dog, too.

Monkey Movie! Carli & Potter: a monkey and her dog

Videos of Carli and Andy together

In Memoriam: Lauren and Carli