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Chiquito is a Passionate Monkey

4/26/2014

6 Comments

 
PictureReaching for Olivier with four limbs and a tail.
    Chiquito is passionate about the things he loves, and one of his favorite things is a human... our regent biologist, Olivier.
      Chiquito only sees Olivier four times a year, but when he does, it's a very tactile meeting. He hugs Olivier.  He grooms Olivier's hair.  He sniffs his fingers after touching Olivier's chest, where spider monkeys have a scent gland.  He licks the sweat on Oliver's forehead.
     At four years of age, Chiquito is too strong and potentially dangerous to interact with Olivier without chain link between them.  And were he so inclined, he could do serious damage through the chain link - but the only time he exhibits frustration (by showing his teeth) is when he has to let go.  

Picture
Sniffing his finger after touching Olivier's chest.
Picture
Grooming Olivier's hair.
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Licking Olivier's forehead.
     It takes two of us to peel Olivier's shirt from Chiquito's hands and feet.  Still unwilling to say good-bye, he reaches out with the "long arm of his tail."
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Trying to pull Olivier closer.
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Offering his tail for a last good-bye.
6 Comments
Andrina Escalante
4/26/2014 04:58:49 am

How sweet! Is there a special reason for Chiquito to love him so dearly? A story I did not read? Thank you for your posts! I enjoy them very much. Maybe some day I will be able to visit you. Keep on doing your loving work!

Reply
Michele
4/26/2014 05:21:29 am

Several reasons. Olivier was one of the first people Chiquito met when he arrived here. And Oliver uses very appropriate and respectful body language around Chiquito. Also, like most male spider monkeys, Chiquito prefers other males because of the family social structure he would encounter in the wild (males stay in their natal troop and females leave). And thank you!

Reply
Karen Jacobson
4/26/2014 07:01:45 am

I have never known Spider Monkeys to be mean. Only sweet and gentel

Reply
Michele
4/26/2014 07:23:24 am

Females are almost always sweet and gentle, although I do know of one in the Osa who sent a man for stitches several times (he was afraid of her and she knew it). The male spider monkeys are unpredictable and I know of several serious incidents in rescue centers in Mexico and Costa Rica involving male spider monkeys.

Reply
Tony
4/26/2014 08:08:40 am

I always enjoyed my hugs from my little buddy! :)

Reply
Michele
4/26/2014 08:59:54 am

Yes, you were his other favorite guy!!!

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    Picture
    In the jungle with the monkeys.

    Michele Gawenka 

       Jane Goodall has always been my hero, and working with primates an aspiration.  Africa wasn't in the cards the summer I turned 16, when my parents offered to send me to volunteer,  and there was only one class (in physical anthro-pology) when I wanted to study primatology in college.  
         Decades later my husband and I retired in Costa Rica, and this is our journey with spider (and howler) monkeys. 

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