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Update on Jackie, the Howler Monkey from Caracol
We received an update from Jerry on little Jackie, who is being rehabilitated at the Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary is a holding facility for rescued, orphaned and abandoned wild animals that often are kept illegally as pets. Jerry let us know some details about the experience when they went to Caracol on November 9, 2009.
“We went up to the staff quarters and found her fast asleep with the monkey in a hammock. She seemed quite relieved to see the monkey go as it wouldn’t leave her alone and she was worried that after she left in three weeks that the monkey would be lonely.
We made a few further inquiries and found that she was found tied up at an illegal Guatemalan hunting and Xate camp by members of the defense force about a year ago. Judging by the amount of bush meat at the camp it is likely that the mother was indeed shot, and most probably eaten.
We limped back here with my vehicle and just made it before it burnt out completely swapped vehicles and then went on to the temporary rehab center where she was put in his new temporary home and where she could see Bonny and Clyde who will be her new chums. Yesterday another Howler named Henry joined the gang.
Jack(queline) is trying to reach out to the other monkeys and is showing play behavior already and so as soon as she gets a clean bill of health she will join them. At the moment she is a little out of condition and has pinworms in her fecal sample. These are easily dealt with and not a problem just taking a few days to get her clear. She is also eating very well indeed on lots of wild monkey food so her condition will improve rapidly as will her weight.
As you have had contact with her please be aware that pinworms are very contagious and you should be on the lookout for any symptoms yourself. (YUK!)”
Luckily, Courtney and I have not shown any symptoms of pinworms. Most likely Jackie obtained the pinworms after we had been in contact with her. My guess, maybe passed on from the doggie at Caracol. Unfortunate, but curable!
Of course, we are interested in helping to fund raise and ask that anyone interested in donating to the wildlife refuge (Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary) currently rehabilitating Jackie to contact them. You can donate money, time, or even work for them!
While we cannot be there in Belize, we are looking forward to following Jackie’s progress and hope to help with the Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in any way we can. I personally admire Jerry, Collette, and Robin for raising concerns to us and the Belizean people and for what they do. We are glad to also help raise awareness of the disposition of juvenile howler monkeys from their families and the upsetting truth about the whole process.
Thanks so much to Liz, Colette and Jerry for bringing this situation to my and other’s attention.
Just an update – all four monkeys are doing great and waiting for their new caging to be finished so we can move to a permanent site and begin introductions and forming a cohesive group which will hopefully be released back into the wild next April.
Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary has supported the Wildlife Care Center of Belize for ten years by providing land to conduct the rehabilitation. They have facilities and programs for students and visitors, however, the rehabilitation program is off-limits due to the strict health and behavioral protocols required.
Donations are indeed very welcome and can be made to : Wildlife Care Center og Belize through the website: saveworlddraw.org – go to Filling Wishes/Guestbook, then Wildlife Care Center of Belize and the donate “button”.
I have been thinking about Jackie a lot and thought it was time that I finally wrote you guys. I was the volunteer at Caracol that was asleep in the hammock with Jackie when Robin and Brittany came to take Jackie away.
It really saddens me about all of the rumors that have started about the guys that work at Caracol having anything to do with killing Jackie’s parents and stealing Jackie away from them. There is absolutely no way any of the guys at Caracol could have ever done such a thing. I stayed there for three weeks and the time I was there with Jackie I know that they really truly cared for her and there is no way that they are animal killers.
I have no idea about the Guatemalan camp where Jackie was supposedly tied up, but I just want to make it clear that the guys at Caracol had nothing to do with that or with hurting other howler monkeys.
I am very glad that Jackie will have proper care and hopefully will be released back into the wild where she belongs. I am a little upset about how Robin and Brittany went about taking Jackie away though. I think they should have at least gave the guys a little warning that they were coming to take Jackie so that they could have gotten a chance to say a proper goodbye. When they took her I was really the only one that got to say goodbye and the guys had been taking care of Jackie for over 6 months. Nothing was explained to us and the guys at Caracol honestly thought that the Belize Forestry Department had sold Jackie to Gringos as a pet.
I know that this is not true and I explained it to them, but it is pretty difficult for them to understand since they got absolutely no explanation about where she was going and why. I only found out because I had emailed Monkey Bay.
I just hope that this clears up the rumors about the guys at Caracol because they are honestly really good people.
I fell in love with Jackie during the time I knew her and I am truly happy that she is being cared for the way she should be. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me at oramdy@yahoo.com.
Dyana Oram
Hi Dyana. Thanks for your comment. I am sorry it took us so long to get back to you. We don’t have the full background story on Jackie/Agatha as of yet and I suspect we never will But we never meant to give anyone the impression that anyone at Caracol did anything wrong. It’s our understanding that they adopted a pet same as anyone would who visits the ASPCA. Unfortunately, when the authorities come by, there is seldom a lot of time for formal farewells. This was a case where the law takes precedence over peoples’ feelings and people like you and the caretakers have to suffer the loss. But Agatha (as she is now named) should have a very bright future in her new home. The shelter is in desperate need of funds, however, and we’re trying to figure out how to do some fund raising for them.
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