Dear Friends of the Sanctuary, This past week we were able to confirm our importance towards the care of wildlife. Andy Pruter of Everyday Adventures called to tell us a neighbor found a juvenile spider monkey that just wasn’t responding well. Our project veterinarian was due to visit the following day and Andy took on the challenge to find someone that would be able to get it to Puerto Jimenez the following morning. As we knew he would, Andy came through when he found hotel guests that had planned to visit the Sanctuary! Early the following morning, Andy kindly crated her up as comfortably as possible for the journey from Matapalo to the Sanctuary. Dr. Tello and I opened the crates to find an emaciated spider monkey. She was so weak she was not able to fend off our physical examination. Dr. Tello said she had been kept in a small area where movement of her arms and tail would rub against the cage. She was given three injections, an antibiotic, parasites, and a huge boost of vitamins. Staff and I worked every waking hour to keep her comfortable and kept trying different foods for her to eat. The first day she was here she would only nibble on a banana. I kept it to myself that I was very concerned she might not make it. Dr. Tello gave us a second injection of antibiotics. She was still so weak that she could not resist us. I had a hard time trying to find enough muscle! Through our tireless efforts we were able to hit upon a high protein food that she liked—a banana omelet! Next came grapes! Now that she has started to eat, her appetite has increased dramatically and she is eating a variety of foods. And here she is on her ninth day at the Sanctuary!!! The Foundation has been saving wildlife for close to twenty years and has acquired an excellent reputation with the community. They know how we tirelessly work with each animal in need with the sole purpose of giving every possible chance allowing it to survive in the wild as was intended. The community has been instrumental while working with us to save wildlife. We receive many calls for assistance and when necessary, our pick up time is less than two hours. Quite often, timing is critical with first response to wildlife. I am honored to have this duty and must thank the community and all of our friends that have helped us to preserve to continue saving wildlife, and to be able to be here when these rare but neglected animals are in need. THANK YOU!!! We need to name this charming female spider monkey. Please send your suggestions to [email protected]. We will keep you posted of her progress and when the name has been determined! Then and now… Guess who this was when she was a neonate… Over ten years of living in the wild… The above margay had been released over ten years ago and was living a wild life until he was attacked! The park guards often saw him on the ridge to the west of the Sanctuary. He was somewhat of a celebrity as he was believed to be the only margay in this area of the park. In November he was seen wandering around the grounds at night. This created some concern since this cat is considered to be arboreal. Staff got a good look at him one day and decided to see if they couldn’t get him—he was definitely in need of help. They threw a blanket over him and grabbed his sides; he immediately collapsed into the caretaker’s arms. He was carried to a cage where a physical examination was done to determine the severity of his wounds. He had four puncture wounds on the top of his head, a large gash going down his neck, both back paws had been bitten and hair loss was over 50% of his body. Because of these injuries he could not hunt and returned to the Sanctuary for help. He is well on his way to recovery gaining weight, most of his hair has returned and we are just waiting for the large gash on his neck to totally close up. We feed our cats at different times each day—morning, mid-day and afternoon, but not in a specific order. This feeding prevents stereotypic pacing when they are expecting to be fed. We will soon start an operant behavior about 30 days prior to being released by feeding him at the same time every day. In the event he is not making it again in the wild, he will know when to show up to be fed. He won’t be caged, but he will be fed and can live freely within the protected area of the Sanctuary for the rest of his days. “Thank You” to some special volunteers… Special recognition needs to be given to some of our extraordinary volunteers for the devotion to the Sanctuary. Cassie has spent much of her free time revamping our website and getting the Foundation up to speed with social media projects. She is quick to respond to my questions and always ready to assist. Please peruse our website at Osa Wildlife Sanctuary where you will be able to read about the Sanctuary through our past newsletters. George Brill went above and beyond with a fund raising project. He participated and completed the 45.5 mile Endurancelife Dorset Coastal Trail Run. His run garnered over $1,400 for the Sanctuary. Hats off to these two fine young people for helping the Sanctuary to continue our life saving mission. We are honored to be able to have their support! Thank you Cassie and George! Other well deserved recognition… Our tours are such an important means of supporting the rescue center. It is a two hour fact filled tour giving the natural history of the species, individual stories, ecological importance and of their individual species conservation projects. Though you see only the unfortunate wildlife that was deemed not releasable, you learn about many facets of the rainforest that include other species. We like to think that our permanent residents live in a five star hotel with nutritious room service and the best medical plan available. This creates a fine line between the funding of the Sanctuary and commercialization of wildlife. We are very sensitive to this, and because of our philosophies—we do not advertise—our website doesn’t have tour information. Our visitors come through local hotels making a recommendation. We would like to thank five hotels for their belief in us and show our gratitude by acknowledging their most important participation towards the success of the Sanctuary. Many area hotels and businesses support us, but the following are responsible for the most donations. They are placed in alphabetical order: Cabinas Jimenez Crocodile Bay Resort Bosque del Cabo Iguana Lodge Beach Resort & Spa Playa Cativo Lodge We thank the above hotels for their most needed and much-appreciated support. They are essential to our continued successful efforts to release wildlife. 2016… The babies… And a look towards 2017… Little Mikey finally topped the scales at 500 grams allowing her to move out of the nursery cage and in with the troop! She was a picky little eater, but has seen what the others eat waking her palate to many different flavors. These six Central American Squirrel Monkeys will be released during the next synchronized breeding period—between September and October. Three of the four males will be sexually mature. I believe our oldest female is mature as well since the males we released two years ago were returning during the last season. Our gratitude goes out to all that helped us to repair their pre-release cage. We are preparing the adoption program for those that donated and we will also be setting the release date for those that wish to have the honor of opening their cage door. This event and many more like it are made possible only through the donations of our friends. There is still time to make your tax-deductible donation for this year… Your support this past year has been tremendous—you helped us to improve the life of these deserving animals in need. We thank you for your confidence in us and will carry on to show our appreciation through continuing to improve every facet of the Sanctuary to saving wildlife. There is not much time left to give a tax deductible donation for this year, but it doesn’t take much time to press the PayPal icon below to make a year-end donation. Or you could write a check today made payable to Osa Wildlife Sanctuary Foundation, Inc. and send to P.O. Box 171, Greenwood, IN 4142-0171. Everyone at the Sanctuary sends their most powerful and positive thoughts for a most prosperous and salubrious New Year for you and your loved ones. THANK YOU!