Broken Bonds - Witness the miracle of a monkey's birth

[JungleFriends]

We rescued 25 monkeys from a facility that went out of business and several monkeys arrived pregnant. We vasectomize all of the male monkeys at Jungle Friends. To learn more about the births at the sanctuary go to the Jungle Friends website.

[williwilley]

Why is a monkey allowed a chance to breed in a sanctuary?

[JaniceParton]

Why the music? Ppl would like to hear the natural sounds of the monket gining birth.

[junkintrunk55]

"Wild" baby monkeys stand a less then 40% chance of survival. I have seen a macaque pull her baby's head off in birth. She was trying to pull it out. Look up "disable monkey" to see how monkey treat little monkeys in the wild. A new leader kills the babies that aren't his. A lone male will kill any baby he can get his hands on. A cage is far from ideal, but the baby stands a better chance of life. Farmers trap and torture them to death, or posion them. At least this 1 is safe from that fate.

[JaneBunnyhugger]

@junkintrunk55 Life is very hard in nature it's true. But who are these farmers who torture wild monkeys to death??

[junkintrunk55]

@JaneBunnyhugger They were in Africa and India. In India we saw the aftermath of them being burnt alive in a cage. In Vietnam we found them poisoned with sugar. Poachers will bait the trap, let the alpha go in and eat, when he comes out the rest of the troop goes in and eats. Then the trap is sprung, and the leader sees the whole troop caught. The mamas are killed for the infants if they fight. The juveniles teeth are cut or pulled right there to manage then better.

[JungleFriends]

@JaneBunnyhugger I have seen white-faced capuchins in Panama and life was not hard at all, they played, foraged for food, groomed, well, they were all having a pretty good time from what I saw! The contrast of seeing them in small cages and seeing them free is quite striking. If you would look at both, you would rally for the monkeys to be in the wild, and not in captivity.

[JungleFriends]

@junkintrunk55 You are mistaken about that, very few monkeys are killed due to predation in the wild! Primatologists studied the brown capuchins in the wild for many years and one primatologist who I know personally was there for over three years and saw only one elderly female fall victim to prey in the wild group. The monkeys care for and protect each other, it just doesn't happen. I do not believe there has ever been an occurrence of infanticide in brown capuchins!

[junkintrunk55]

@JungleFriends I was speaking about all monkeys not just brown capuchins. When I was giving that fact, about the 40%, I was meaning all deaths, from other monkeys, and humans. Look up "Disable monkey" or "A fatal attack on an unweaned infant by a non-resident male in a free-ranging group of Japanese mac". The largest killer of monkeys are other monkeys. Baboons are terrible parents, at times dragging their baby to death, and yes it happens in the wild. A baby monkey has a rough road to survival

[junglechic]

@junkintrunk55 I would like to know where you got the 40% infant survival rate statistic - it is almost impossible to give such an estimate across the entire Primate Order. There is so much variation by species and even by population. I am a primatologist who has been studying capuchin monkeys, both wild and captive, for the past 10 years. Yes, nature can be tough but the monkeys have evolved to deal with such challenges. Infanticide happens, but groups have evolved mechanisms to minimize it

[junglechic]

@junkintrunk55 I would like to know where you got the 40% infant survival rate statistic - it is almost impossible to give such an estimate across the entire Primate Order. There is so much variation by species and even by population. I am a primatologist who has been studying capuchin monkeys, both wild and captive, for the past 10 years. Yes, nature can be tough but the monkeys have evolved to deal with such challenges. Infanticide happens, but groups have evolved mechanisms to minimize it

[junglechic]

@junkintrunk55 I am going to be specific to brown capuchins since they are the focus of this video...infanticide in wild brown capuchins does not happen, so that argument does not hold when discussing the benefits of captivity. Here is an actual scientific stat based on long-term data of several populations: in the wild, infant capuchin mortality rate: 18-24%. in CAPTIVITY, infant capuchin mortality rate: 13-36%. And that number doesn't include the pet-trade

[junglechic]

@junkintrunk55 The biggest killer of non-human primates is HUMANS, in captivity and the wild. Even in more aggressive species, like baboons, injury might be common but death due to aggression is rare. And don't get me started on "pet" monkey nuerosis and mortality rates due to lonliness, poor diet and stress-induced disease. Diabetes, heart disease are killing young pet primates at an alarming rate-this does NOT happen in the wild. Monkeys have far better and easier lives in the wild..period.

[junglechic]

@junkintrunk55 One final comment...yes, a baby monkey has a rough road to survival - but that is more true in captivity. It is RARE (but you're right, it does happen) that a baby dies due to neglect in the wild, but that typically meant that the health of the baby or mom was already compromised. Infant deaths due to poor parenting is COMMON in captive primates, of all species. The moms are typically so stressed and often did not learn maternal skills b/c they were separated from their mom.

[junkintrunk55]

@junglechic My personal observation says otherwise, but I am fine in your disagreement. We all see what we want to see. It's very common in the wild.

[fastgurrrl]

I have shared. :) Jodie

[junglefriendsprimate]

Please alert all your friends to watch this amazing, moving video. Help us spread this important message that a mother's love is not found in only one species.

[JungleFriends]

Oh, Jody, I knew you would be in tears, remember I did issue a 'hanky alert'. Of course we have much more on film for the documentary and we try to videotape the monkeys several times a week. We got some great shots of the other babies from the same rescue in the pool today, it was too funny.

[elsiebea]

Missed a good chance to film a live birth. Only shows from the waist up, and also didn't get to see her cleaning the baby up and taking care of it.

Nice try.

[JungleFriends]

You will see much more in the documentary, this was just the trailer. We have some great footage.

[Joema2]

So beautiful...I cried during this trailer.