#born free primate sanctuary

[is-the-primate-vid-cute]

So, I was looking at animals native to Texas, and it says that Japanese macaques were introduced to a sanctuary in Frio County.

I was wondering if you knew why that was done? I see that Japanese macaques are listed as LC on the conservation list, so I'm assuming it wasn't for conservation efforts, but I see no other reason to introduce them to a whole new area like that.

Its actually an interesting story. Born Free Primate Sanctuary is one of the worlds largest monkey sanctuaries, and right now they are at capacity housing 600 individuals on 186 acres.

The sanctuary started in the 1970s when a rancher whose primatologist daughter was studying macaques in Japan heard that as a result of humans feeding them, the macaque population had multiplied to the point where many had migrated to Kyoto and were becoming problem animals for residents. The Japanese government was going to cull the population, which is why Edward Dryden offered to take 150 macaques from Japan to live on his Texas ranch.

Now to be honest, this probably wasn't ideal. This was someone with a soft spot for animals who just wanted to help, but didn't have experience caring for primates. Luckily, a lot of land and presumably consulting with his daughter who was somewhat of an expert means that the relocated macaques did well in Texas despite needing to adjust to the climate.

Of course nowadays, you can't just have a couple hundred monkeys even if you're doing a pretty good job of looking after them. The mid 90s saw a huge fundraiser to buy more land for the sanctuary, and in 1999 the Animal Protection Institute took over managing the sanctuary to help them expand their reach so that more monkeys could live and thrive on the expanded grounds.

This was a terrific move, because now many of the sanctuaries residents are victims of the pet trade and wildlife trafficking who are able to have a chance at a better life. Texas is one of the worst states for exotic wild animal "pets", so the fact that this sanctuary exists to take them in and educate people on the damage of owning pet monkeys is fantastic. They are dedicated to education and to providing the best in captive quality of life. Despite them being referred to as a "free roam" sanctuary above, the residents are in enclosures to contain them to the sanctuary, the biggest of which is 52 acres! With an enclosure that massive, the monkeys are living essentially in nature just with the necessary supports from samctuary staff.

Additionally, to protect the residents (many of whom were traumatized from being pets, roadside attractions, and test subjects) the sanctuary is not open to the public. However, you can still see the monkeys online through the sanctuaries website and social media. They have 11 different species from descendents of the original macaque population to vervets and baboons!

Going in to research this place I was worried it would be bad, but I was happy to be surprised by a history of dedicated primate love. You can learn more and support the sanctuary through their website (linked above). 🐒💖

It should be noted Born Free is an international anti-captivity animal rights organization and while we support Born Free Primate Sanctuary we do not support the entirety of Born Free's many campaigns.

[alphaternal]

* INTEGRATED BEHAVIORAL RAPTOR INTELLIGENCE STUDY (IBRIS).

On April 4th, 2012, Simon Masrani gives Doctor Henry Wu full authorization to create a new species after the board of his company requested a new Jurassic World attraction to satisfy investors, resulting in the creation of the Indominus Rex.  Earlier within that very same year, Dr. Wu recreated hybrid dromaeosauridae, specifically combining genes from birds, reptiles, the achillobator and its close relative the velociraptor, both of which share a place among the raptor family. The Integrated Behavioral Raptor Intelligence Study was created under the pretense that “velociraptors” would become a main attraction of Jurassic World. Owen Grady was hired as chief researcher and animal handler for the project. IBRIS was conducted by INGEN’s Security Division. The program was privately conducted by INGEN, and is a completely separate entity from Jurassic World.

The fact that the Indominus Rex and the IBRIS Project were founded within the same year is not a coincidence. Under the command of Vic Hoskins, INGEN’s Security Division had evolved from a small security detail into a powerful paramilitary organization in partnerships with Aerospace Dynamix, Mascom Network, and the United Nation’s Security Council; utilizing five satellites for a GPS navigation system known as ‘Centaurus’ developed and launched by Mascom, it is one of the most formidable security companies in the world.

A retired Recon Marine, Vic Hoskins saw an opportunity in weaponizing the predators of Jurassic World. Unknown to Simon Masrani, he cut a deal with Dr. Henry Wu to develop a deadly hybrid super-weapon under the pretense of creating a new attraction for Masrani’s theme park. Vic greenlighted the IBRIS Project in order to test the theory that raptors were able to be trained and controlled for military field operations. 

When Owen was hired, the circumstances were complicated, and he had not been informed of what his role in this new job even was until he was shipped off to Isla Nublar. While Owen had no idea of the Indominus Rex’s existence, he had developed an inseparable bond with the raptors and quickly discovered that Hoskins had ulterior motives for the IBRIS Project. Owen actively fought to delay and stop these plans. Because his expertise was invaluable, and he was already making considerable progress with his research, they could not replace him. He was the key to the project’s success.

The IBRIS Project had not started smoothly. Since its conception in 2012, there have been a number of raptor subjects created for IBRIS using DNA from raptors taken from Isla Sorna. An incident with Subject V2, a hyper-aggressive raptor, resulted in their termination via euthanasia (the autopsy revealed that the aggression was likely due to the raptor’s sex changing to male through their pogona DNA). The mortality rate of cloned raptors were high, as they were extremely fragile as newborns. In 2013, upon realizing that training the raptors would be incredibly complex, Owen had recruited a French zoologist and long-time friend, Barry Sembène. They began working together to develop strategies and techniques to care for the raptors. 

By 2015, there was a pack of raptors consisting of Blue, Charlie, Delta, and Echo, all trained to follow over 40 different commands. 

In a typical hierarchy among pack animals, the alpha is not designated as the "strongest, most violent aggressor commanding the pack". This is a gross misconception based on flawed, outdated research with random subjugated wolves in enclosed spaces (zoos). In free wolves, alphas (often coming in pairs) are parental figures with the necessary skill set to protect and sustain the group dynamic.  “Betas” are typically the alphas’ oldest children. An authentic wolf pack is a family. Evolution is about progeny, not power, or strength, or dominance.

When Owen confirms he is the raptor pack’s alpha to Zach Mitchell, he is literally admitting that he is their surrogate parent. In turn, the IBRIS raptors recognize Owen as their caregiver and “matriarch”. 

Owen was present at each one of their births, and had them imprint on him; this was essential to the process of training them. He cycled through several training methods, derived from his experience training Belgian Malinois, bottlenose dolphins, sea lions, and other marine animals. These training methods included Clicker training, Target & Transference training, and Hand-rearing. As an animal behaviorist, it was not difficult to learn from the raptors and accommodate their unique needs. Owen began hand-rearing them before they could even walk, rarely leaving their side. He fed them by hand. As the raptors began growing large enough to socialize, Owen would eat pieces of raw meat as he was feeding it to the raptors, in order to establish himself as the pack’s alpha. He was often required to exude dominant behavior, body language and posturing, which compelled the raptors to behave submissively and recognize his role as leader of the pack.

The raptors’ dynamics and hierarchy are not very different from typical pack-hunting predators, but they were born in captivity;  their behaviors adapted to their environment and training... and the fact that they had imprinted on a human.

Owen was the only handler allowed to work directly with the raptors. No other staff member was allowed to hand-feed them. Because he is essentially their surrogate parent, Owen spent twelve hours a day with the raptors in order to maintain this bond. For this reason, he has a mobile office-home in the facility where they built the spacious Raptor Research Arena. He had four alarm clocks, and slept five hours a day, every day, except on weekends where he was required days off.

The raptors are measured between 6 to 7 feet tall and twelve feet long; their average weight estimated between 150 and  200 pounds. Their intelligence was equivalent to lower primates and socially intelligent canines:   specifically, wolves. To create the unique raptors for IBRIS, Dr. Henry Wu created a custom hybrid genetic code for each clone. The four raptors were born separately. Blue was born in 2012, as the oldest member of the raptor pack, surviving the initial trials of the IBRIS project. Delta was the second eldest raptor, born in 2013. Later in that same year, Echo was born as the second youngest raptor in the pack. Charlie was the youngest, born on the first month of 2014. The average raptor was “lethal” at 3 months old due to their accelerated growth rate; it only takes them one year to grow into their fully adult bodies.  

[Owen Grady’s expertise as an animal handler is canonically inspired by Military Dolphin Handlers. I personally added that he was a Navy SEAL Military Working Dog Handler training Belgian Malinois before MK9, which are the primary canines used in military field operations and bomb detection for DEVGRU. Intelligent, protective, and with an excessive prey-drive, these dogs were known as the “Furry Raptors” of domesticated canines for their extremely high energy, almost to the point of neurotic. His ability to train raptors and become their proverbial alpha can be paralleling the famous ex-military animal behaviorist Werner Freund, a former paratrooper and career soldier whom dedicated his life to rearing and raising wolves in his own wolf sanctuary in Merzig, Germany. Freund would raise them from a very young age, and acted as their pack leader.]

[respectanimalrights]

@worldanimalnews_ @light.knowledge.power It has been a little over one week since four #lion cubs were rescued from horrendous captive conditions in #France and released to the @BornFreeFoundation Big Cat Sanctuary, Shamwari Private Game Reserve, in the Eastern Cape of #SouthAfrica. 🙏🦁 - Innocent victims of #Europe’s trade in wild animals from #circuses, #zoos and private keeping, the lion #cubs were sold illegally to become #pets before being rescued by French wildlife charity, Fondation 30 Millions d'Amis (Officiel). - “Thanks to the commitment and generosity of so many people, these four lions can look forward to a life worth living in South Africa. But the horror of people keeping wild animals as ‘pets’ goes on and on. Here in the #UnitedStates, the phenomenon of #primates being treated as pets has yet to go out of fashion – which is why we have over 500 rescued primates at the @BornFreeUSAorg Primate Sanctuary in #Texas,” Will Travers, President of Born Free told WAN this morning. “Charities like #BornFree will continue to do all we can to rescue and care for wild animals in need – but until laws are introduced and this form of exploitation is brought to an end, more wild animals will suffer because of our unnatural desire to get ‘up close and personal.’” - READ MORE: 🌍👉WorldAnimalNews.com (LINK IN OUR BIO)👆@worldanimalnews_ @peace_4animals #WorldAnimalNews https://www.instagram.com/p/B390REyDUtq/?igshid=1vwpm7me31d7p

[zolamj]

For anyone who saw the wonderful movie “Born Free” as a kid and got hooked on saving wildlife for the future, you would have loved the event I went to on Friday night.  It was a fundraiser for “Born Free,” the great organization begun by Virginia McKenna who starred in the movie, and her son, Will Travers, to do what they could to save the remaining wildlife, which is diminishing at an alarming rate.  Few elephants are now living compared to the number we had even ten years ago.  The Chinese are in large part responsible for the markets in wild animal parts which they wrongly believe have all sorts of magical health benefits.  In the case of elephants, of course, it’s the ivory they want for commercial use.  They torture bears for their liver bile and kill millions of the gentlest creatures, seahorses for superstitious reasons.  But don’t get me started on what’s being done to wildlife.  One organization that’s worth supporting is “Born Free,” though others are also worthy.  

“Born Free” maintains the largest sanctuary for rescued primates in the country.  These animals have been rescues from labs, where their lives have almost always been a living hell, from private parties and from roadside zoos and circuses.  It is outside San Antonio and can be visited by special arrangement.  I urge anyone interested in maintaining the species that haven’t been wiped out yet to acquaint yourself with this group.  

[narcisbolgor-blog]

Baboon escapes crate at San Antonio airport, flees to baggage area

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Video

Baboon on the loose at San Antonio International Airport

Animal control officers searching for animal that escaped from its cage.

A baboon made a monkey out of airport officials Monday when it escaped its crate as cargo was being transported at San Antonio International Airport.

The baboon led officials on a wild chase through a baggage area in Terminal B where animals are taken after getting off a flight. It's not running around a public area, according to Fox 25.

The monkey was flown in on an American Airlines flight from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. 

"A monkey that was en route to a local animal sanctuary and refuge in the San Antonio-area inadvertently became free of his cage," the airline said in a statement provided to Fox 25. "He is currently in an isolated area where it is safe, away from all of our team members and customers."

The San Antonio Police Department and San Antonio Zoo & Animal Care Services cornered the creature Monday afternoon and are working together to capture and safely transport him to his new home at Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary in La Salle County.

“We are working closely with the San Antonio Aviation Department and officials from the San Antonio Zoo. Officials from the zoo are now onsite to ensure his safety and wellbeing as he continues his journey to his new home at the primate sanctuary," American Airlines said.

Twitter users couldn't help but poke fun at the creature's daring exit.

"There is a #BABOON on the loose at San Antonio International Airport #NotFakeNews #YouCantMakeThisUp," one user shared with a GIF of a dancing monkey.

"'There's a baboon on the loose,' said the pilot to the moose. (Only in San Antonio, and only in Baggage Claim B)," another joked.

"A baboon got loose! No joke," another wrote.

Photos circulating online showed the monkey wandering around outside the cargo area near a motorized cart.

BREAKING: Baboon on the loose at San Antonio, TX airport. Effort underway to catch it. (pic: KENS) @7News pic.twitter.com/S1msymJUd8

— Alex DiPrato (@AlexDiPrato) May 21, 2018

#BREAKING: Baboon out of its crate, on the loose at San Antonio Airport. @CBS8 pic.twitter.com/FPuY0qXbGB

— Barbara Richards (@sdbrichards) May 21, 2018

Baboon on the loose @ksatnews, san Antonio zoo keepers onsite pic.twitter.com/8BbgPfAqMy

— Yohiner Pena (@penaSAT_united) May 21, 2018

News of the monkey's wild escape came as a shock to residents. It's the second baboon incident the city has seen in the span of roughly a month. In April, a group of baboons escaped a San Antonio research facility in what officials called a "unique accident."

The four animals climbed a propped up barrel and fled the open-air enclosure at the Southwest National Primate Research Center.

Video footage showed the animals gallivanting down roads a few miles from the research center for about 30 minutes before a highly trained team was able to re-capture them, officials said.

"These baboons are really trying to escape this city," one resident joked on Twitter Monday.

These baboons are really trying to escape this city. pic.twitter.com/e4t2aJdd22

— elle (@_ellegabrielle) May 21, 2018

So far, no flights or passengers have been impacted by the incident, KSAT reports.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

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[letsdeepvoidbouquet]

The Five Main Projects of the Sabbatical Year

Choosing the country you want to visit during your year is almost as difficult as choosing your sabbatical project. Fortunately, there are several countries that offer students a fantastic one-year sabbatical experience. We refer to these countries as the Big Five and you will be surprised when you discover which countries are: India: India has been popular with hitchhikers and backpackers since the hippy opening in the 1960s. Today, it is still very popular among young people who seek spirituality and seek clarification about their project. sabbatical. Yoga retreats and ashram stays may seem attractive, but after a while, meditation throughout the day can be a bit tiring. We recommend mixing the yoga camp with the sabbatical project that are returned to the community. If you dream of white sands and brightly colored saris, Goa is ideal for you. You can help save the turtles from the dangers of mass tourism in the picturesque Galgibaga beach or help in the Cottiago Natural Reserve. Sri Lanka: With a culture very similar to that of India, it is not surprising that the picturesque Sri Lanka has been on our list of the top five. Sri Lanka offers lush vegetation, curry warmer than India and is probably the best place in the world to see the elusive leopard. Elephant lovers will also find it difficult to find a country that best suits their favorite pachyderms, and as the Elephant never forgets, Sri Lanka is also a place you will not forget. Kenya: If you want to spend a lot of time on your sabbatical projects just hanging around, then look no further than Kenya. The Colobus Trust is a primate conservation sanctuary located in the coastal city of Diani. Not only can you help take care of the monkeys during your free year, but you can also help build an infrastructure that helps the primate population even after you return home. You will also have the opportunity to go out into the community and educate locals about the ethical issues surrounding the conversation with primates. The only thing that is wrong with the projects of the sabbatical year in Colobus Trust is that you will not be able to take one of the monkeys with you. Malawi: Madonna could be a great admirer of this African country, but if you were born savage, you probably like it too! You can do a lot on sabbatical projects in Malawi and the country has three very different projects based on your likes and dislikes. The Beckhams' learning might want to spend their year teaching the locals the ball skills that will help them develop their eye-hand coordination and provide a positive form of recreation. If you are a real person, it is probably best that you spend your gap year projects helping out in the community and teaching the locals everything from AIDS awareness to job skills. South Africa: South Africa has a lot to offer in terms of gap year projects and if you are a veterinarian looking for a fun way to get your EMS points or if you just want to take a few months out of the daily routine to become a guardian of the game, you will definitely find what you are looking for in South Africa. The country could be known for its five large game reserves, but there are also large community projects and the possibility of underwater waves with the ORCA Marine Foundation.

The Five Main Projects of the Sabbatical Year project, sabbatical, south africa from Travel the world https://ift.tt/2Jadisx via IFTTT

[is-the-primate-vid-cute]

Via Born Free Primate Sanctuary:

URGENT HELP NEEDED! Over the weekend of May 21, a speeding vehicle drove onto our primate sanctuary property and into our largest monkey enclosure, home to 63 animals. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but there was extensive damage to the enclosure's fencing.

We must act quickly to protect the precious monkeys who call the enclosure home. We need to immediately raise at least $10,000 to protect the animals and make repairs.

Please rush an urgent donation to enable us to take immediate action to

— Reinforce and maintain the provisional barriers we have constructed to keep the monkeys in the enclosure and predators out.

— Move the monkeys to other enclosures on the property.

— Assess the full extent of the damage and develop plans for permanent repairs or to replace the fencing..

We do not have a moment to lose! Please donate to our fundraiser today to help us take emergency steps to address damages to the sanctuary's Main enclosure, home to 63 precious monkeys!

You can donate here:

Facebook

Website- this link is to donate to Born Free USA as a whole and funds do not automatically directly go to the sanctuary but you can add a note that the donation is for the emergency repairs.

[stephenfouts]

Monkey's wild day at the airport has a happy ending

Anarchy. Rebellion. High drama. 

It was all happening at San Antonio International Airport, where a crafty, incredibly frightened rhesus macaque was on the loose after escaping from its transport crate on Monday afternoon.

SEE ALSO: Scientists record the world's longest penguin dive

According to local CNN affiliate KSAT, the primate fugitive, identified as Dawkins, was in transit after an American Airlines flight from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, via Chicago. 

Dawkins' destination? The Born Free USA sanctuary in La Salle County, Texas, which claims to be one of the country’s largest primate sanctuaries.  Read more...

More about Primate, Airport, San Antonio, Macaques, and Culture Monkey's wild day at the airport has a happy ending published first on https://eooke.tumblr.com/

[luciousbailey]

Monkey's wild day at the airport has a happy ending

Anarchy. Rebellion. High drama. 

It was all happening at San Antonio International Airport, where a crafty, incredibly frightened rhesus macaque was on the loose after escaping from its transport crate on Monday afternoon.

SEE ALSO: Scientists record the world's longest penguin dive

According to local CNN affiliate KSAT, the primate fugitive, identified as Dawkins, was in transit after an American Airlines flight from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, via Chicago. 

Dawkins' destination? The Born Free USA sanctuary in La Salle County, Texas, which claims to be one of the country’s largest primate sanctuaries.  Read more...

More about Primate, Airport, San Antonio, Macaques, and Culture Monkey's wild day at the airport has a happy ending published first on https://instarify.tumblr.com/

[news-mashable-yahoopartner-blog]

Monkey's wild day at the airport has a happy ending

Anarchy. Rebellion. High drama. 

It was all happening at San Antonio International Airport, where a crafty, incredibly frightened rhesus macaque was on the loose after escaping from its transport crate on Monday afternoon.

SEE ALSO: Scientists record the world's longest penguin dive

According to local CNN affiliate KSAT, the primate fugitive, identified as Dawkins, was in transit after an American Airlines flight from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, via Chicago. 

Dawkins' destination? The Born Free USA sanctuary in La Salle County, Texas, which claims to be one of the country’s largest primate sanctuaries. 

BREAKING NEWS! A baboon is on the loose in the San Antonio International Airport. https://t.co/kj1q1iOWJL

— KSAT 12 (@ksatnews) May 21, 2018

Many outlets initially reported Dawkins as a baboon, but the CEO of Born Free USA, Prashant Khetan, identified the renegade as their future resident rhesus macaque.

We are aware that there are news reports ab a primate loose at the San Antonio Airport. It is Dawkins, who was scheduled to arrive at our Sanctuary today. We are working with authorities to keep the situation under control & to make sure Dawkins arrives at the Sanctuary ASAP.

— BornFreeUSA (@BornFreeUSA) May 21, 2018

So, how did this happen? According to KSAT, Dawkins made his escape from a transportation crate while being moved to cargo.

#BREAKING: Baboon out of its crate, on the loose at San Antonio Airport. @CBS8 pic.twitter.com/FPuY0qXbGB

— Barbara Richards (@sdbrichards) May 21, 2018

Caught on camera. Baboon that escaped enclosure at San Antonio Intl Airport has been captured. pic.twitter.com/Cjy0OuMUxX

— Kari Lake Fox 10 (@KariLakeFox10) May 21, 2018

A #kens5eyewitness was able to capture this video of the escaped monkey at the San Antonio Airport. The baboon has been contained, SAPD confirmed with KENS 5. pic.twitter.com/JOimlyoxtZ

— KENS 5 (@KENS5) May 21, 2018

Dawkins wandered around the cargo bay of the airport before handlers cornered him in the Terminal B baggage handling area. That's where they tranquillized the poor animal, and Dawkins' wild ride was over.

Airport spokesman Rich Stinson told AP that Dawkins didn't go near human travelers during the whole shenanigan, and that the activity was confined to a secure baggage area.

In a statement, American Airlines officials said that Dawkins had been captured and was back on course to the sanctuary.

"American Airlines, the San Antonio Aviation Department and officials from the San Antonio Zoo all worked in conjunction to ensure his safety and wellbeing as he continues his journey to his new home," the airline said in a later statement. 

Later that day, Born Free USA announced that Dawkins had arrived safely at the sanctuary.

UPDATE ON DAWKINS: Dawkins has arrived, safe and sound, at our Primate Sanctuary! The stress of his journey and brief escape at the airport has tired him, but he is doing well. Thank you to everyone for your support and concern. We will post additional updates tomorrow.

— BornFreeUSA (@BornFreeUSA) May 22, 2018

What a rush.

WATCH: Boeing's 777X wingtips will fold to let it squeeze into narrow airport gates

[zolamj]

For anyone who saw the wonderful movie “Born Free” as a kid and got hooked on saving wildlife for the future, you would have loved the event I went to on Friday night.  It was a fundraiser for “Born Free,” the great organization begun by Virginia McKenna who starred in the movie, and her son, Will Travers, to do what they could to save the remaining wildlife, which is diminishing at an alarming rate.  Few elephants are now living compared to the number we had even ten years ago.  The Chinese are in large part responsible for the markets in wild animal parts which they wrongly believe have all sorts of magical health benefits.  In the case of elephants, of course, it’s the ivory they want for commercial use.  They torture bears for their liver bile and kill millions of the gentlest creatures, seahorses for superstitious reasons.  But don’t get me started on what’s being done to wildlife.  One organization that’s worth supporting is “Born Free,” though others are also worthy.  

“Born Free” maintains the largest sanctuary for rescued primates in the country.  These animals have been rescues from labs, where their lives have almost always been a living hell, from private parties and from roadside zoos and circuses.  It is outside San Antonio and can be visited by special arrangement.  I urge anyone interested in maintaining the species that haven’t been wiped out yet to acquaint yourself with this group.  

[caredogstips]

No more monkey business: why primates should never be domesticateds

About 4,500 primates are in private hands in the UK many of them tolerating poor conditions. Is it duration for a prohibit?

Primate owner Laura was searching the internet adverts for monkeys she could try to recovery when she recognized one from a humanity in the Cotswolds who was clearly seeing caring for two common marmosets extremely difficult. This is a common trouble: primates are wild swine and keeping them is complex, expensive and demanding.

She contacted the man and agreed to collect the two adult monkeys one male and one female. They had been kept in a tiny molted in his garden and were in a horrid surrounding. Hed fed them almost entirely on porridge, babe meat and fish thumbs. When I asked if he had given them any return or vegetables, he is recalled that hed occasionally fed them grapes. Neither monkey had ever been viewed by a vet. The male had severe dental problems and his tail was a mixture of matted “hairs-breadth” and bald-headed patches.

Like many of us, Laura( not her real identify) grew up fascinated and enthralled by apes, and although she had never intended to keep primates, she found herself rescuing the two marmosets. She soon realised that the female was pregnant and, two week ago, twin males were born. Soon after, the adult male was booked in for surgery to give his posterior and teeth. While the marmoset was under anaesthetic, the veterinary been observed that his tiny form was riddled with metabolic bone canker caused by good nutrition and inadequate illuminate. Unhappily the male died during the operation though, with his twisted bones and torso bloated by gas, it seemed a slight boon when his centre eventually stopped.

A common marmoset in the Atlantic rainforest, Brazil. Photograph: Alamy

This sad story doesnt stop there. Before he was dead, hed “ve managed” get the female pregnant again and soon another three minuscule males were born. Laura then rescued another adult male( this time from Luton ), and what had started out as a single pair now turned into their own families of seven with the new male acting as a surrogate father.

They all now live in at her family home in Lincolnshire in a specially made enclosure with specialist heating, specific lighting, indoor and outdoor lopes and an ever-changing regiman of feeding and behavioural enrichment. A contraceptive embed has ensured no more little monkeys have since arrived on the situation and now, ultimately, both the monkeys and keeper are happy.

But Laura admits that primates make awful domesticateds: They urinate on everything to label their territory and stink abysmally; they need constant care and easily rate millions of pounds every year to hinder. Parties have this idea that they can touch and cuddle them but I never touch mine as theyre not tame. If I did, Id expect to be burn. Even with my most tighten swine, I wouldnt dream of it as it would stress him out too much. Its such a greedy happen to have them as pets. Get a puppy or have a child simply dont get a monkey!

Welcome to the world of primate ownership: the legal orientation is complex, the moralities troublesome, and even the owners themselves have conflicted perceives about obstructing monkeys at home. Id tried contacting several other primate owneds but, with this one exception , none would speak to me. I got a sense that they knew it was wrong at some level and were uncomfortable talking about it.

I am a primatologist and have worked with chimps in Africa, orangutans in Indonesia and dark-green monkeys in the Caribbean. I enjoy primates and have dedicated years to cooperating with them, but there is not a chance I would want one as a pet.

Squirrel apes are on the dangerous swine directory. Photograph: Alamy

But there are people who want to an estimated 4,500 primates( which covers apes, monkeys and lemurs, bushbabies and lorises) are privately owned in the UK. While some of these are owned by trained experts and represent specialist breed groups, the great majority are babies, living in peoples homes. Often owned by individuals with good-for-nothing more than good goals and the foolish are looking forward to own a cool pet, it is clear that there are very few privately owned captive primates in the UK in such a luck statu as the ones Laura rescued.

Dr Sharon Redrobe a veterinary surgeon and the CEO of Twycross Zoo, Warwicks knows first-hand just how hard primate husbandry is. By explanation, a domesticated is an animal we touch and play with in our the house and in no way is it in a primates best interest to be constantly touched and played with by parties. They require their own social groups, are extremely hard to care for and often grow up to be aggressive and hopeless to restrict. Owneds then take them to a veterinary, expecting them to be magically fastened. Theyre wild animals and, in that respect , no different to tigers. You wouldnt stop a tiger at home, so dont deter a monkey.

Redrobe is speedy to point out that in the past hindering domesticated primates was far more socially acceptable and that situates such as Twycross are really founded by people who liked to keep pet monkeys themselves, but she adds hours have moved on.

The world has changed enormously since the 1950 s and 60 s. We didnt know any better then; now we do. If “youve been” affection monkeys, let them be monkeys. Perhaps used to help by sponsoring one in a zoo or sanctuary.

Despite such involved charge motivations, high welfare concerns and the serious gambles associated with the spread of certain illness between people and non-human primates, it is still legal to maintain primates as babies in the UK regardless of how endangered they are or how dangerous they may be.

The care of primates is covered by the Animal Welfare Act of 2006 and Defras Code of Practice for the Welfare of Privately Kept Primates( the primate code) of 2010. The play, which states that animal owners must thwart wasteful bear and must take all reasonable steps to meet their swine motives, is hard to enforce as most domesticated primates in the UK are kept in secret.

The young capuchin monkey that German permissions confiscated from Justin Bieber in 2013. Photograph: Christof Stache/ AFP

The primate system is primarily to explain the welfare and administration needs of the swine and an infringement of its provisions is not actually an offence though it could be used as evidence in tribunal in animal welfare cases. The code, which applies to everything from gorillas to lemurs, is further faded as it is subject to broad-minded reading specified group are not covered in any real detail.

The maintaining of some primate species, such as capuchins, is thankfully restricted for the purposes of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act( 1976 ), but many, including marmosets are not listed. A 2014 RSPCA report found that 81% of pet primates in the UK belonged to the marmoset group originally from South America.

Other primates, such as cotton-top tamarins, are critically endangered and shall be given the highest level of legal protection from international trade.

With little awareness circumventing laws and a general lack of consequences for those failing to comply with regulations, many feel that the laws and regulations should change and that a complete ban on the obstructing of baby primates in the UK should be introduced.

Rachel Hevesi, the director of Wild Futures, a primate sanctuary in Looe, Cornwall, knows all too well just how weak the current legislation is. Weve had over 150 primates come to us over the years and, without exception, every single one has had physical or psychological difficulties or, in many cases, both, she says.

Hervesi wants to see a full forbidding on impeding primates as babies and reads success lying in a positive index style of legislation, where any specific primate species allowed to be kept as pets would be registered. With no species being proposed as being suitable, this blanket, prohibition-type constitution means that there would be little room for misconception. Such legislation is already present in Belgium and several other European countries and has led to not only a reduction in the overall number of primates being saved as babies, but too to an increase in members of the community reporting unauthorized pet owners.

Primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall. Image: Diana Sanchez/ AFP

Hevesi is hopeful that the British government will bring a ban into force in the near future. When the primate code was introduced in 2010, it was agreed that the government would review its success after a five-year interval. Defra failed to hold that review in 2015, but had now been promised to reassess the legislation this year.

Key stakeholders including the Primate Society of Great Britain, the RSPCA, the British Veterinary Association, the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums( Biaza ), Born Free and Four Paws all support a ban on domesticated primates and are collecting exhibit and data for the government review.

Hevesi says: The swap relies on the ignorance of the buyer and the desire of the breeders. Weve never met a custodian who has purposely set out to harm their primate pet; its a lack of awareness and skills.

The image of primates as inventive and interactive little human-like swine that can live alongside and play with us may seem request and a recent batch of unthinking celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Beyonc and the Kardashians posing with primates has only added to the problem but without exception, every expert, academic, welfare officer and zoo custodian been agreed that primates are utterly unwarranted as pets.

Whereas hounds and felines have been specially engendered for generations as domesticateds to a time where we have selected specific behavioural and physical peculiarities that become them perfect attendants most primates multiplied as domesticateds are only research results of two or three generations in captivity and are, in most respects, still wild and untamed animals.

Renowned primatologist and conservationist Dr Jane Goodallhas worked with wild and captive primates for decades and knows them better than anyone. Every primate are part of an environment that is as close to a wild decided as is practicable. They are beautiful and intelligent animals, but highly complex with very specific needs. They simply do not belong in our homes as pets.

With such strong opposition to the UK primate pet trade, it is hoped that a censor can soon be drafted and introduced to protect the requirements and welfare of these highly intelligent, though difficult to keep, wild animals.

Read more: www.theguardian.com

The post No more monkey business: why primates should never be domesticateds appeared first on caredogstips.com.

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[nothingman]

A sample of the USDA’s response to a Freedom of Information Act request on why it decided to delete animal welfare records from its website.

Image courtesy USDA

They exposed abuses at roadside zoos, uncovered controversial government-funded animal experiments, and revealed the mistreatment of circus elephants. They confirmed dog breeders weren't running puppy mills and that horse trainers weren’t exploiting their racers and jumpers. The records in U.S. Department of Agriculture’s online animal welfare database allowed journalists, investigators, and the public to look up inspection reports and violations of animal welfare laws.

But nearly three months ago, the the USDA removed its database of animal abuse records from its public website, with no explanation.

National Geographic wanted to know why. We filed a Freedom of Information Act request in February for records relating to the decision to take the database offline.

In bold disregard for transparency, the department’s response Friday consisted of 1,771 pages of completely blacked-out documents.

“The lack of transparency,” says Kate Dylewsky, program associate at the animal welfare nonprofit Born Free USA, “is as astounding as it is bewildering.”

These redacted records, released by the department’s Office of General Counsel, which provides legal services to the USDA, cover February 23 to March 10—after the database was taken offline. The FOIA officer handling the request said that all 1,771 pages were redacted because they’re related to ongoing lawsuits.

They include one by the Humane Society and one filed on behalf of six organizations, including PETA, Born Free USA, and The Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine.

Ongoing litigation is a common reason for redactions in FOIA responses, but Doug Haddix, executive director of Investigative Reporters and Editors, says these full-page blackouts seem “excessive. No effort has been made to determine precisely what content in these 1,700 pages may legally be redacted. FOIA requires agencies to disclose materials—even portions of documents—that are not exempt from release under the law. The FOIA law generally prevents agencies from withholding an entire document just because a portion of it is exempt from disclosure."

Delcianna Winders, of Harvard’s Animal Law & Policy Program, one of the organizations suing the USDA, agrees.

“While these bases may be legitimate for deleting portions of the records at issue, they absolutely cannot be used to withhold 1,771 entire pages,” Winders said in an email.

These retired lab chimps hang out at Louisiana’s National Chimpanzee Sanctuary, but most lab animals don’t have such a relaxed ending. The USDA animal welfare records helped the public, journalists, and advocates identify and expose abuses.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MELANIE STETSON FREEMAN, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, GETTY IMAGES

The FOIA officer said she will be releasing the remaining documents in batches on a monthly basis. It’s unclear whether documents will continue to be fully redacted. National Geographic is also waiting on documents from another USDA office on the same topic—why the USDA decided to take down the records. (Read more: What we know about the purge of animal welfare records.)

The department assured the public in February that the records in the database would still be available via a Freedom of Information Act request, a much more time-consuming process than simply looking up a name in a public online database.

National Geographic has also filed FOIA request for the entire animal welfare database. The USDA has not yet released any records in response to that FOIA.

ASSESSING THE DAMAGE?

Three months after the purge, those who work to protect animals from abuse are feeling the impact. John Goodwin, with the Humane Society of the United States’ Stop the Puppy Mill campaign, says that seven states and several municipalities mandate that pet stores cannot do business with breeders without demonstrating that they have clean USDA inspection reports. Goodwin says that many breeders are now skirting this policy—because the reports simply aren’t available—and are “doing business in the dark.”

The takedown has prevented PETA from knowing the status of several crucial animal cruelty cases, including its eyewitness investigation of Primate Products, Inc, a Florida-based primate dealer funded by the U.S. government. Undercover PETA investigators and USDA inspection reports revealed sustained cruelty by workers towards primates at the facility, including violently yanking their tails, hurling them into nets, pushing their anuses into their bodies, and yanking teeth without anesthesia.

The facility provides primates to research labs at several universities, including the University of Maryland and Columbia. Without USDA inspection reports, PETA cannot update PPI’s customers on ongoing inspections or violations at the facility.

A PETA investigation into the unlawful use of a paralytic drug at two roadside zoos revealed that animals were administered the drug, succinylcholine, without pain meds. The drug leaves animals fully conscious but trapped in a state of panic, unable to blink, in extreme respiratory distress. Delcianna Winders says that despite repeated USDA citations, the zoos had not been charged, and any further action on the part of the USDA is now impossible to know.

Kate Dylewsky of Born Free USA says that the past three months have slowed down the organization’s work on multiple fronts. They keep an ongoing registry of abuse incidents at exotic animal exhibitors across the country. Many of these incidents are pulled from USDA records. Without new records, Dylewsky says that the database is simply not up-to-date with recent transgressions. It hampers her ability to build a case for increased protections, especially at the legislative level. She’s currently working to restrict the use of wild animals in circuses, by compiling testimony of which circuses still use wild animals and whether they have violated the Animal Welfare Act. She no longer has access to new or old information.

Winders today filed an appeal to the USDA, arguing that withholding entire documents is in “total contravention of the law.”

The Humane Society’s John Goodwin believes the only beneficiaries to continued secrecy are abusers. “We want [the database] back up, the American Zoological Association wants it back up. The entire research community wants it back up. The only people who don’t are extremists who want to bury the truth.”

via National Geographic News

[atravellingfoodie]

Our last outing during our #staycation in Franschoek was to the Drakenstein Lion Park in Paarl. It is a 50 acre sanctuary that provides a refuge to persecuted captive-born lions rescued from zoos, circuses and other private institutions worldwide. The sanctuary provides a safe haven free from abuse and distress for the lions, where they can live out their days with compassionate and respectful treatment. There is also a sanctuary for primates that we did not have time to visit on the day. The Park offers the opportunity to Adopt-a-Lion and contribute to the annual food, veterinary and housing costs for the adopted Lion. Adoptive parents get an acknowledgement on the information board as well as the website. Adoptions fees are R1000 annually (approximately: 135 USD, 95 EURO, 85 GBP) and renewable every year. Have you ever seen any big cats? Leave your answer in the comments. . ____________________________________________________________ @igerscapetown @cntraveler @bbc_travel @natgeotravel @natgeopeopleasia #CelebrateCapeTown #welltravelled #justbackfrom #whatsinmybag #cntravelereats #passportexpress #passionpassport #traveldeeper #darlingescapes #Paarl #travelandleisure #travelandlife #instapassport #luxurytravel #IAmATraveler #travelgram #lionsofinstagram #bigcatsofinstagram #instatravel #wanderlust #traveltheworld #igtravel #exploringtheglobe #beautifuldestinations #traveladdict #lonelyplanet #travelpics #doyoutravel #loveCapeTown #travelerincapetown (at Drakenstein Lion Park)

[is-the-primate-vid-cute]

A 34-year-old mother of two, Erica is a software engineer. Erica purchased a monkey, whom she named Khy, as a pet and, on realizing that she could not give him the life he needed, rehomed him to the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary, she shares the details of the realities of keeping a monkey as a pet in the United States.

I found out about this exotic animal auction an hour away from where I lived. We got there early, we walked around and looked at all the animals in the cages. They had giraffes, zebras, all kinds of crazy things. Then I saw a breeder that was holding this little baby monkey that was two or three months old. That was Khy. He was so tiny. He had a little stuffed teddy bear that he was clinging to the entire time. At the time, I thought it was so cute, but looking back, it was just so sad. I remember during the auction it was just one woman and me bidding against each other. Afterwards, it was just a 15-minute talk with the breeder and then we were on our way. And then I was like oh my god, what have I done?

At about 23 months, Khy started getting aggressive towards me, and it got to the point that I was nervous to even go into his room to clean out his cage. As far as actual interactions go, there just wasn’t much, because I was afraid to be around him. He had bitten me three times in one month, and that had not been a thing before that. I really started to panic at that point. I started to reach out to a handful of primate sanctuaries around the country to try to find a good home for him.

I remember right after I found a space for him at the Born Free Sanctuary, going into Khy’s room and being so relieved but just so sad. I went and sat down in his room and let him out of his cage and he came out and cuddled up in my lap and I just started crying because I had finally made plans to find a new home for him and he was being sweet. As I was questioning my decision, I remember a teardrop fell on him and he looked up and attacked my face.I don’t know what I would’ve done if Born Free hadn’t taken him in. Keeping him wasn’t an option, so I don’t know… I feel like I would have [had to have had him killed] because I don’t know how I could have lived with him. If you’re terrified of them at three pounds, imagine what they’re like at 30 pounds.

[Quote and photo via Born Free USA]

Above is Khy, as an adult living at Born Free Primate Sanctuary. He is an energetic young man who is still more interested in people than his monkey neighbors. He requires extra enrichment and medications to reduce his life-long stress. He is also known for Self Injerius Behavior or SIB (also known as self-attacking) this behavior is common in ex-pets. When they are stressed, overwhelmed or understimulated SIB can manifest as attacking ones own feet or hands, biting themselves or throwing themselves as if being attacked. These behaviors can be reduced with extra enrichment, eliminating stressors, and occasionally by medication but cannot be stopped all together.

Khy's favorite foods include melon, corn, avocado and human food such as cereal, pasta etc. He enjoys watching the other monkeys when they get riled up and cows that wander the neighboring fence.

[is-the-primate-vid-cute]

That feeling when... the corn is especially delicious!

At Born Free Primate Sanctuary, we feed the monkey residents a varied and nutritious diet. This promotes good health... and a lot of happiness!

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