Monkey business. Two weeks in.

Offering my smell to a very nervous Gray Fox

I believe tomorrow marks my second week in Nicaragua, yes, another unexpected stop in my travels that has turn into a task for bringing awareness to a cause which has touch my life.

For the last two weeks I have been volunteering at a non profit wildlife rescue center (managed by non-profit organization FAZOONIC), the only one in the entire country of Nicaragua. It has been a twister of emotions, between wanting to help them by participating in a campaign to raise awareness, as well as money to build a bigger enclosure for the white-face Capuchin monkeys (which are being held in very small cages while they are being rehabilitated) and wanting to free them all.

Where is the little yummy worm?

For the most part, I have been helping with the monkeys, mostly the white-face Capuchin. I have been learning about how to stimulate their natural instincts with enrichment exercises, such as wrapping worms in banana leaves tied up in sticks to stimulate foraging. Today we started the building of climbing structures and bedding platforms high up the ground, as they would in the wild to stay away from predators.

Sometimes it's just so rewarding to see what its being done, what I can do to help. Other days I continue to see how a lot of these animals, like a Gato Ostroche (or as they know it on the US, a Gray Fox) who was just turned into the center the other day, is being kept on a 3x2x2ft cage, sleeping on the raw metal bars. Now, this is not to blame the center, they are doing what they can with what they have. This center does not turn any animals away and while way underfunded they continue to save many wild animals from being kept as pets. While at the center, this animals get the treatment needed until fully rehabilitated and released back into their natural habitat. Without funds, this is not an easy task, and sometimes they stay there, longer than they appear to need to. But this is my opinion, and Im not a animal behavior specialist.

The truth is Marina, the director of this center has so much heart and passion for her mission of helping these animals return back to their natural habitat, and this is shown in the numbers of animals release since they open in 1997, over 2000 animals, have return back home.

Happy moment, spreading its wings to freedom.

So speaking of helping these animals, I'm sure you are wondering how you can help as well, and good things is, there is an answer to that.

First of, you might want to know how this cause got started and who is behind it all, so you should Meet My Friend Lolo... It just so happens, he's got a blog. Whoislolo.wordpress.com

Also, do you want to know how these white-face Capuchin monkeys end up as a pet?
Read about the dirty business of the pet trade from my friends awesome article.

Lastly, I KNOW you want to help, so check this out, YOU can actually help.
We are trying to raise 11,000 before April 3rd, Did I mention that? And there is also a site where you can learn more about it. You can donate as much or as little as you want by going to this site.

The money will go towards building bigger enclosures for this monkeys as well as acquiring equipment necessary (incubators, nursing facilities etc) to help other species of animals (parrots, toucans, raccoons and many more) as well.

And if that does not motivate you enough, I also made a video for all of my friends in the parkour community who I know are monkey lovers, for many many reason. Here is my try at being a spoke person for these monkeys.



Well, that went from sharing my thoughts about my experience in Nicaragua, to totally promoting this cause, but well, that has been so far my experience in Nicaragua for the most part, so there.... I shared it.

As always, much love and aloha to you all.