By Breanne Cyr, Primate Behavioral Specialist
As you can probably imagine, support is one of the main pillars of sanctuaries. Sanctuaries would not be successful or even possible without support – support between monkeys, the humans working with them, as well as support from the community. Each form of support is integral to meeting the complex physical, social, and emotional needs of primates.
Support among monkeys is essential to their wellbeing, as primates are deeply social animals. Especially for monkeys coming to sanctuary who may have had rough or unpredictable pasts, forming bonds with others and having reliable structure can really allow the monkeys to feel safe and to flourish. Between monkeys, behaviors such as grooming, play, and even peaceful resting are important for trust-building and stress reduction. Companionship offers reassurance, reduces anxiety, and provides opportunities for natural behaviors that are critical to psychological health.
Human support is equally as important for establishing trust and safety among monkeys in sanctuary. We support their daily care, enrichment, medical needs, and their varying levels of need for social interaction. Some monkeys, like Mars, ask for and really crave getting scratches with a backscratcher from caregivers – and we try to give that to him. That being said, we generally have a hands off approach and encourage monkeys to interact with their other monkey comrades, as this is truly the best and most natural support for them. We must also respect the autonomy and dignity of the animals and support their natural instincts – the sanctuary is THEIR home and we are there to support and empower them and their choices. We also provide patience and consistency to help create an environment where monkeys feel safe enough to be themselves.
Positive reinforcement training (PRT) is one of the most effective tools in building connected and trusted relationships between staff and monkeys. It lets the monkeys know that their choices matter and that cooperation leads to positive outcomes. Here, we are able to give one-on-one attention to a monkey and the monkey can choose whether or not they want to engage. In these game-like training sessions, monkeys also learn to participate in their own care which ultimately decreases stress and increases quality of life.
Community support also plays a foundational role in the sanctuary’s success. Part of our mission is to educate the public on issues such as the pitfalls of the monkey trade (ie. Please don’t get a pet monkey!), life for monkeys after living in labs, and monkey-related facts. We love seeing people’s enthusiasm, participation, and support as we do this. We could not exist without the countless number of volunteers helping out as well. Primates Inc depends heavily on donations from the community, as monkeys in sanctuary do not receive any government/public funding. Financial contributions fund food, veterinary care, habitat construction and maintenance, and enrichment. All the primates – humans and monkeys alike – also get very excited and are very grateful to receive donated items.
Noah is one example of the interplay of various support levels at Primates Inc. He first and foremost seeks companionship with his roommate, Maddie. They groom together, aggress together, sleep near each other, and seek comfort from one another. Noah (a former pet monkey) was very aggressive, untrusting of humans, and had numerous abnormal behaviors when he first arrived at Primates Inc. Although he can still be feisty, through positive interactions and support from staff as well as some PRT with one of his favorite foods – carrots – Noah’s anxiety and aggression have calmed so he is a more relaxed monkey showing more natural behaviors. Additionally, Noah has needed additional medical support, which would not have been possible without community support – getting extra vets on deck, as well as financial contributions.
Ultimately, support in a monkey sanctuary is a continuous, interconnected web. Monkeys support each other through social bonds and shared experiences. Humans support monkeys through compassionate care and positive reinforcement, fostering trust and cooperation. Many of the humans working with the monkeys also find a mutual benefit and support from the monkeys. The community supports the sanctuary through resources, advocacy, and awareness, ensuring that the work can continue and expand. Each layer reinforces the others and helps the sanctuary run smoothly while providing the best possible environment for captive monkeys coming out of research or the pet trade.
Noah loves carrots!! Check out this tasty recipe inspired by Noah’s love for carrots:
Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots
Ingredients
2 pounds carrots (peeled, 6 cups)
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Salt and pepper
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 425℉. Set out a sheet pan.
2. Slice peeled carrots diagonally into 2-inch pieces. If any are thicker than 1 inch, slice them in half lengthwise so they roast evenly. You should end up with about 6 cups.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, brown sugar, cinnamon (if using), salt, and pepper to taste (I add 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper) until well combined.
4. Add sliced carrots to the bowl and toss until they’re evenly coated. (Do this in a bowl and not on the sheet pan so carrots are evenly coated.)
5. Use a spatula to transfer the coated carrots (and any liquid) onto the sheet pan. Place cut sides down so they’re touching the tray. Roast carrots 15 minutes, remove them from oven, and toss them well. Space them out again and flip the cut sides down to touch the tray. Roast another 10–15 minutes or until carrots are nicely caramelized and tender. Remove from oven and toss once more.
6. Serve warm right out of the oven.
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