IPR Diaries

IPR celebrated its 13th year in March 2009.  We have achieved a great deal in that time.  Our continued progress will benefit many more homeless primates in the next dozen years, and beyond.

A Little of Our Monkeys' History

Shapken and Ginger Shapken and Ginger are Mona Monkeys.  Shapken arrived from Germany and Ginger from Israel.  They are both former pet monkeys who became aggressive after reaching sexual maturity.  Ginger was confiscated from his owners in Israel and taken to a monkey sanctuary; he had been badly beaten after attacking his owner and as a result is now missing an arm and most of his tail.  He and Shapken share an enclosure and enjoy each other's company.
Buddy Buddy is a common Marmoset.  He came to IPR after being found abandoned in a house that had been sold.  The new owners of the house were very suprised to find a small cage containing two marmosets when they moved in.
Lady Lady is a Black-eared Marmoset.  She was found along with Buddy, abondoned in a small cage when their owners sold their house.  Both Lady and Buddy are clearly hand reared and show some behavioural problems.  Not long after they came to IPR, Buddy attacked Lady and she had to be removed from his enclosure.  But luckily she has found friendship with two male Marmosets, Brady and Micky.
Honey Honey is a common Squirrel Monkey.  She came to IPR from Israel, where she was confiscated from her owners, as she was being kept illegally as a pet.  Due to her sweet nature, Honey is often a favorite among volunteers.  She loves to nibble corn on the cob!
Jessie Jessie is a young common Marmoset.  She was just three weeks old when she was taken from her natural parents and sold into the pet trade.  Her concerned new owner phoned IPR when Jessie was three months old and said the baby monkey she bought as a pet had not stopped crying from the moment she was separated from her natural mom and dad.  Her owner bought her to IPR, where she was introduced to her foster Marmoset parents Emily and Puma.  As you can see, Jessie has found love in the arms of her foster mother, Emily.  The insecure, frightened little monkey who arrived at the santuary is now playful, happy, and confident.
Missy and Cornelius Missy was donated to IPR after her owner realised how much a pet monkey smells.  Monkeys sent mark and therefore if you keep one in your house, your house will smell like a monkey.  Missy was origanally put with Jessie, as they are the same age, but for some reason Jessie's foster father, Vosi, did not get on with Missy.  Missy is now living with Cornelius, who was found on the side of a road and brought to IPR.  The two get along very well.
Papilon Papi the Mona Monkey has had a very difficult life.  He was born in the wild in the West Indies.  His parents were killed when he was young, so he could be taken into the exotic pet trade.  He was sold as a pet in Hungary, but his owner realised fairly soon that Papi is not suitable as a pet.  The trauma of his parents' death has made Papi very unstable.  He was given to Hungary Zoo, but because Papi can become aggitated around people, he did not fit in at the zoo and was unable to socialize with the other monkeys.  He is doing much better now that he is in a quiet environment, where he gets the attention and care he needs for his diabetes.
Twiggi Before coming to IPR, Twiggi was a kept as a breeding monkey.  She was used strictly for breeding purposes and was not allowed to raise her babies.  After arriving at the sanctuary, Twiggi was given the first two baby Marmosets available to foster.  She has made a wonderful mother.
Goofy Goofy has been in our care since before the sanctuary was founded.  He is 18 years old, but still quite active and playful with his cagemates.
Bobby Bobby's first owner did not like the way he smelled, so he was washed every day in an attempt to render him odor-free.  Marmosets are not designed for such treatment and Bobby is missing all the fur on his somach and back legs as a result.
Flea Flea's name is quite appropriate, as he was being sold at a flea market several years ago, was bought and brought to the sanctuary.  He is now a father to young Marmoset Sonko.  The two are seen hugging at the right.
Thimone Thimone, a Cotton-top Tamarin, came to us at only a few days old with her brother, who unfortunately did not survive.  Because we did not have any other Tamarins at the time, Thimone was mothered by Marmosets.  She now lives with a male Cotton-top Tamarin, BA.