Mono
Tití
Saimiri oerstedii - mono ardilla de América central - Central American Squirrel Monkey
10 Reasons Not to Feed the Monkeys
We hope
that you enjoy the splendid natural beauty of Costa Rica and
the Quepos/Manuel Antonio area. During your stay here you
may be lucky enough to see what the Smithsonian magazine has
called the "peacefull primate": a small brown and
red monkey which is known locally as the "mono tití"
or squirrel monkey. This subspecies of monkey, S. o. citrenellus,
is endemic to the area around Manuel Antonio and is in extreme
danger of extinction. According to the most recent study there
are approximately 1500 individuals alive today and the only
place they live in the world is here. The main cause of their
extinction is the loss of habitat to urbanization and agricultural
activities.
Some forward
thinking tourism business here in Quepos and Manuel Antonio
have joined together to form the Association for the Conservation
of the Mono Tití (ASCOMOTI). These businesses understand
the urgent need to invest some of the tourism dollars they
receive into projects to help save the mono tití as
well as the other wildlife which makes this area such a unique
and beautiful destination.
Ascomoti
is a non-profit organization which is currently trying to
raise funds for two important projects. One is a study to
locate the remaining mono tití trops and the tree corridors
they need to travel between forest patches in and around the
Manuel Antonio National Park. ASCOMOTI is developing an innovative
program whereby the business which are associates of ASCOMOTI
will pay local landowners in those corridors to reforest and
thus expand existing mono tití habitat. Also ASCOMOTI
is working with the local high school in Quepos to create
a tree nursery at the school in Quepos to provide ASCOMOTI
with the trees necessary to establish the corridors. We want
tourism to be a mechanism for the sustainable development
of the entire region!
Our other
project, in collaboration with the Costa Rican electric company,
ICE, is to insulate the electric lines between Quepos and
the Manuel Antonio National Park. This work is urgently needed
because many monkeys and other animals are electrocuted along
the road between Quepos and the National Park. One important
achievement is that in September 2001 ICE insulated the electric
wires within the Manuel Antonio National Park.
Could
you please help us in our efforts to save the mono tití?
Your donation of $20 will have an immediate and positive
impact on the future of this adorable species of monkey.
Please deposit your donation in the wooden box at the
front desk or main counter. If you would like more information,
please ask at the front desk or you can get in touch
with our Director of Operations, Matt Cook at tel: (506)
2224-5703 or email: monotiti@racsa.co.cr
Thanks
very much for your help!
10 Reasons Not to Feed the Monkeys
You might find feeding the monkeys (and other wild animals) to be a thrilling experience, but you are not doing the monkeys a favor. In fact, you are actually harming them. Here’s why:
- Monkeys are highly susceptible to diseases from human hands. They can die from bacteria transferred off your hand that has no ill effect on you.
- Migration to human-population areas to be fed increases the risk of dog attacks and road accidents.
- Irregular feeding leads to an aggressive behavior towards humans and other species
- Contrary to the stereotype, bananas are not the preferred food of monkeys in the wild. Bananas, especially those containing pesticides, can be upsetting to the monkeys’ delicate digestive system and cause serious dental problems that can lead to eventual death.
- Feeding creates a dangerous dependency on humans that diminishes the monkeys’ survival abilities.
- Feeding interferes with the monkeys’ natural habits and upsets the balance of their lifestyle centered on eating wild fruits, seeds, small animals and insects.
- Contact with humans facilitates poaching and the trade in illegal wildlife.
- Pregnant females who are fed nothing but bananas during their pregnancy will not give birth to healthy infants. The babies will be malnourished, or never develop to term, and die before birth.
- Monkeys need to travel an average of 17 kilometers each day to be in good physical condition. If they know that food is available in a particular location, they will not leave that area.
- Not only do we pass on diseases to animals when we feed them by hand, but they can pass diseases to use as well.
The monkeys do not realize any of this. Now YOU do. Don’t facilitate the extinction of one of Nature’s most amazing creatures for your own pleasure or financial gain. Please help save the monkeys by reporting anyone feeding them: 2777-2592. If you are feeding the monkeys, you now know why you should stop. Thank you!
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