This month brought capuchin baby drama, chatty parrots, surprise rescues, and machete bird calls. Thank you for reading!
Animals
The capuchin telenovela continues with the arrival of even more babies! Nera, Kuymi, Nikita and Milana have now joined the ranks of capuchin mothers. Meanwhile, Namaru is keeping a close watch on his growing legacy as the group expands. Who knows what will happen next—stay tuned for the next episode!
As for Saila, Akuro, and Taiga, our newly released spider monkeys, are thriving in the wild. While they still keep their distance from other monkeys, we’re spotting them more frequently with the larger spider monkey group. They know they can always find a meal by the Lulu enclosure, where we make sure to provide fresh food for them overnight.
Susy Utzinger Orphan Animal Hospital
It was with heavy hearts that we said goodbye to Otis, a cherished resident of Esperanza Verde for seven years. From his early days as a tiny 100-gram infant, he thrived in the wild, helping other night monkeys adapt to life outside. Despite our best efforts, including very intensive treatment and consultations with several specialists, Otis suffered from an aggressive condition that left him unable to return to the forest. As his pain grew, we made the difficult decision to let him rest, out of love and compassion. Otis will always be remembered for the joy and spirit he brought to our centre.
Dina, the juvenile female squirrel monkey, found herself in trouble when she came back with several bites. After a quick trip to the operating table for some stitches, she spent a few weeks inside to ensure proper healing. As Olivia would say, squirrel monkeys are “tough cookies,” and Dina was soon back on her feet!
About two weeks later, Amaya arrived with a similar injury—a nasty bite wound on her left thigh. Thanks to the skill of Lucie and Douwe, she was stitched up and is now recovering in the SUSTOAH. Life as a monkey at EV is not always easy, and a newcomer with a big mouth swiftly learns the consequences. But for most, it doesn’t take long to find their place and peace.
Moyo, the adult woolly monkey, has been struggling outdoors, gradually losing weight. It became clear that he needed extra care, so he was brought into the SUSTOAH. Moyo is now sharing the clinic with Tushko, enjoying the freshest, juiciest food we can offer as he regains his strength.
Quarantine
Sumika, our female monk saki monkey, and Meeko, the male large-headed capuchin, have moved out of quarantine and into the Araña enclosure. Sumika, being a rare species to pass through EV, has piqued the curiosity of some of the outside monkeys. This is perfect for her, as it allows her to interact and learn from them, making progress toward her eventual release.
As the only rescue centre in the region, our quarantine space often fills up quickly. This month, we welcomed three yellow-footed tortoises (named now: Jeep, Opel and Chevrolet) and Kukuro, a yellow-crowned Amazon parrot, into the family. The tortoises are eager eaters, devouring cabbage and elephant ears in seconds! Kukuro, however, is more chatty than cuddly—he loves to talk but prefers to keep his distance from us. And just before the end of the month, we welcomed two more yellow-crowned Amazons.
The family house has been quieter since Caucho, the giant river otter, moved on to a new chapter in his life at Taricaya Eco Reserve. But, as always, the calm doesn’t last long. Maya, a juvenile female howler monkey, and Saphira, a young two-fingered sloth, were taken in for intensive care. Meanwhile, Lamber, the naked-tailed armadillo, Lamber, is enjoying some new privileges at the family house, spending more time outside in a small garden enclosure.
Our dedicated volunteer Joëlle has become the official babysitter, looking after the little ones while the adults are away. She’s strict, but they are in very caring hands.
Volunteers and other
Olivia and Douwe managed to take a well-deserved three-day break. After everything they’ve done, it’s safe to say they earned some time off together. We hope the cocktails were refreshing and the weather sunny! Of course, no matter the break, someone always finds them when animals need a home—and that’s how the two new Amazons found their way back to EV.
Philipp Zerbe visited us this month, bringing his wonderful company and invaluable wisdom. Having known the team since our days in Ecuador, he continues to be an essential support, especially in veterinary matters. In addition to serving as president of Esperanza Verde International, Philipp is a true friend, always ready to lend a helping hand wherever and whenever it’s needed.
It was also a fantastic opportunity for our veterinarians and veterinary students to meet with him and discuss the current medical cases.
The volunteer team enjoyed their monthly trip to the Regalia and beautiful forest walks with Machiko, who shared his deep knowledge of the forest. He even taught them how to imitate various bird calls by rubbing leaves on a machete. Epic.
¡Hasta Proxima!
