2014 Annual Report Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary
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2014 Annual Report Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary Message from the Founder It was 1993 when I first met Samantha, a 4-month-old old white- faced capuchin. A product of the exotic pet trade, she was purchased by a friend of mine. Initially, Samantha seemed like the perfect pet clinging to my neck, curious, but cautious. However, as time passed she grew more unpredictable, aggressive and destructive. My friend planned to sell her. I couldn’t let that happen. Concerned for her well-being I kept Samantha and soon it became clear that she needed to be around other monkeys. So, I purchased her biological sister Charlotte as a companion and set about creating a place for these two wild and wonderful beings in my home. I thought that with enough love and the companionship of their own kind, all would be right with the world. Samantha and Charlotte I was wrong. In the early years, I had no idea that monkeys were stolen from their mothers. The babies are literally torn away from their mother’s arms as early as 3-days-old to be sold. It is not hard to imagine the horror both baby and mother feel during this forced separation; there are always scars left from such cruelty. Too often humans only consider their own rights, with little or no concern for the rights of other sentient beings. The more I learned about “pet” monkeys – well, any monkeys in captivity really – the more I wanted to do everything that I could to help them. And so Jungle Friends began. At the time, I was living in Las Vegas and it didn’t take long for me to realize the desert was not the best climate for monkeys. I began searching for a more suitable climate. In 1999 I flew across the country with 13 monkeys, two parrots, one cat and a dog. I haven’t looked back. It is with humble beginnings and generous supporters that Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary has grown from 13 monkeys to 300! In 2014 we were granted a Special Exception by Alachua County to expand our property by an additional 27 acres (more than doubling our capacity), which gives us the much-needed space to rescue monkeys in need of sanctuary. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your continued support! 2 Mission & Philosophy Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary provides permanent, high-quality sanctuary care for monkeys who have been abused, confiscated by authorities, used in research, kept as "pets" or who are simply no longer wanted. We care for the individual medical, psychological and behavioral needs of these monkeys by protecting and providing them a safe, healthy and stimulating environment for life. The greatest demand for sanctuary care is for monkeys being released from research laboratories. We are actively engaged with our national and international animal welfare and advocacy partners, and we are Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) accredited and an active member of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA). Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary is as unique as the monkey residents who call it home. We have designed acres of "living habitats" where monkeys live in spacious natural habitats linked together by miles of elevated runways. We are home to the Bob Barker Medical Clinic and we specialize in caring for monkeys with special-needs, including those suffering from chronic diseases like diabetes and those with physical limitations such as blindness, amputations and paralysis. In the event of a debilitating and/or incurable illness we offer hospice care. Consistent with the hospice philosophy, we recognize death as the final stage of life and seek to enable our monkeys to continue an alert, pain-free life with other symptoms managed so that their last days may be spent with dignity and quality, surrounded by their loved ones. Hospice affirms life and neither hastens nor postpones death. While our immediate and urgent responsibility is to provide the best possible life for the monkeys in our care, our mission is also engaging the interest and support of our national (and international) community. Every monkey successfully released from laboratory research, or rescued from a life as a "pet", or an "entertainer", becomes a part of our message that these beings are worthy of our efforts and must be included in our moral universe. By reaching out to other human primates through our communications, presentations and the Internet, we attempt to encourage and inspire others in taking specific actions for a more compassionate world. Board of Directors Kari Bagnall, President, Founder & Executive Director Sara Smith Susan Schneider, Vice President Bob Egerman Helene Goldson, Secretary Elizabeth Fried, Chair 3 Research Retirement Jungle Friends collaborates with major universities and laboratories to retire monkeys from research into sanctuary. In 2014 we were able to provide permanent homes to 42 research retirees. These monkeys came from a life spent in the laboratory where “home” was a steel cage and in many cases, contact with others of their species was extremely limited or non-existent. In June, we welcomed 20 cotton-top tamarins released from a university that is closing its primate research center. These Tom and Zack retired from an anonymous university lab tamarins came labeled with numbers instead of names. Joining this group in April 2015 is another 33 cotton-tops from the same lab. Cotton-top tamarins are currently classified as critically endangered and are one of the rarest primates in the world with only 6,000 individuals left in the wild. Shortly after the cotton-tops arrived we received seven capuchin monkeys from the University of Georgia. Playfully dubbed the “UGA Boys”, they had spent their entire lives in research. The university wishes to be a model for other labs to retire their research monkeys. We are happy to report that all seven have adjusted well to their outdoor homes and are thriving. Thank you to all of our supporters for Xenon retired from UGA contributing funds necessary to build their new habitats and provide initial care. The College of Wooster in Ohio released three more capuchins from research in July to join their family members previously released to Jungle Friends in 2012. Thanks again to our supporters for helping us raise $7,000 to fund new habitats to accommodate this family of monkeys. The release of these monkeys, as well as the interactions we have had with other universities, sends welcome signals of shifting beliefs about the ultimate fate of monkeys used in research. Universities now seem more willing than ever to Zeke, retired from The College of consider sanctuary care for the monkeys they retire. Wooster in Ohio Monkey Miracles Oftentimes, we take in monkeys that other organizations are unable or unwilling to help. We invest time and money in ‘lost causes’ yet time and time again we have watched those who are deemed hopeless, transform into vibrant, healthy, happy miracle monkeys. Bongo paralyzed Bongo in his REHABitat KC grooming Bongo Bongo’s Story When a ruptured disc left Bongo suddenly paralyzed from the waist down, medical experts claimed that he would never recover and should be euthanized. Despite this grim prognosis, we gave him a chance. After just a few months of therapy in his specially designed REHABitat along with support from his loving monkey companion, KC, Bongo is not only walking – he is running, climbing and playing! Former Pets Jungle Friends receives constant requests to take in “pet” monkeys. In 2014 we provided homes to five former “pets” comprised of four capuchins and one marmoset. Frodo was purchased in a state where “pet” monkeys are illegal. He was confiscated and placed with Jungle Friends when he was just 6-months-old. Mia and Poppy bounced through several “owners”, one which decided to remove all of their teeth to discourage biting. Zaira spent 15 years of her life having no contact with other monkeys and for two years Milo lived with his guardians before they realized he needed a better life with others of his kind. Frodo Mia Poppy Zaira Milo 5 Bob Barker Medical Clinic October 2014 marked the unveiling of our new monkey medical clinic that we have dedicated to the incomparable Mr. Bob Barker. His generous grant along with funds donated by our gracious supporters, allowed us to build this wonderful on-site clinic in order to provide our monkeys with more comprehensive care Jungle Friends partnering veterinarians, Dr. Haddix and Dr. without having to leave the sanctuary. A plan to Schirmer, cut the ribbon to the Bob Barker Medical Clinic build an outdoor REHABitat (funded by Rock to during our annual Monkey Day event. Jungle Friends founder Kari Bagnall, event host Heart Phoenix, builder Jim the Rescue), which connects to the indoor Batts and special guest, Florida State Rep. Clovis Watson Jr., recovery area, is in the works. look on. Jungle Friends medical staff helps sedate one of the UGA Boys for his vasectomy. 6 2014 Jungle Friends Events & Advocacy To educate, promote awareness and secure funding to accomplish our mission; Jungle Friends hosted and participated in various events, workshops and conferences. The second annual Monkey Day was held in October with the theme of Monkey Miracles. Hosted by Heart Phoenix of the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding, the event was the largest held on sanctuary grounds to date with a total of $5,200 raised. Attendees enjoyed live music, a silent auction and tours of the sanctuary. Thank you to everyone who participated in the festivities and donated to the sanctuary. Kari with our Monkey Day host, Heart Phoenix. In November, founder Kari Bagnall traveled to Smith College for “Healing Against All Odds,” a presentation featuring Jungle Friends’ Miracle Monkeys and their healing journeys.