Squirrel Monkey Facts and How You Can Save Them

I must start by offering you some advice, If you ever happen to meet a squirrel monkey, don't try to be polite and shake hands - squirrel monkeys urinate on their hands and feet then walk around to mark their territory. No wonder why squirrel monkeys aren't into shaking hands.

Squirrel monkeys live in large groups with up to 300 individuals. You can imagine how difficult it might be to get the groups attention, but squirrel monkeys are clever and have figured out a way to do this - simply stand up and show off your genitalia. Now that I have your attention.....

Squirrel monkeys make chirp-like sounds which sound more like birds than monkeys to me. Listen to a squirrel monkey. What do you think?
Source: Animal Bytes: Squirrel Monkey

Why Squirrel Monkeys Need Our Help
For the first time in decades, NASA is using monkeys to see how the squirrel monkeys will react to the extreme radioactive environment of space. 18 to 28 squirrel monkeys will be used for this experiment. This is barbaric and not necessary. Can you imagine subjecting the adorable squirrel monkey above to radiation which very likely will kill him or leave him in a lot of pain? Get the full story at Discovery News NASA to Start Irradiating Monkeys. Not to mention that squirrel monkeys are an endangered species.

Help Save Squirrel Monkeys

• Donate to Stop Primate Animal Testing
• Become a member of the International Primate Protection League
• Donate your car to Ape and Monkey Rescue and Sanctuaries

Photo Courtesy of: ifijay

If you like primates check out these links:
Why Now is the Time to See Lemurs
Cute Monkey Pictures  
Monkey Mountain in Germany
Observing Endangered Samango Monkeys in iSimangaliso Wetland Park 
Cheeky Vervet Monkeys in Uganda

Chimpanzee Facts and How You Can Save Them

Not only are chimpanzees smart, capable of building and using tools, they also demonstrate a range of emotions far greater than what we may have ever thought possible, including grief and mourning.

At the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center, Dorothy, a beloved 40 year old chimp, passed away. The photo on the right, by Monica Szczupider shows the other chimps watching in pained silence as Dorothy, is wheeled past them and prepared for burial at a sanctuary in Cameroon. The amazing story is featured in National Geographic. Source: Monkeys in Mourning. (Note that chimpanzees are actually apes not monkeys, since they don't have a tail, but I digress.) Notice that the chimps have their arms wrapped around each other and are silent, even though they are normally quite vocal. Once again we are reminded that chimpanzees have so many qualities that us humans can relate to.

Why Chimpanzees Need Our Help
Chimpanzees are an endangered species. Their population is estimated to be between 150,000 - 235,000. They now only live in 13 out of the original 25 African countries they used to inhabit and only 6 of those countries have healthy breeding populations.

Chimpanzee's biggest threat is that they're hunted for bushmeat which is consumed by humans. This needs to stop if chimpanzees are to survive - more info on Bushmeat. Habitat loss and deforestation are also threats to chimpanzees. The illegal capture of chimpanzees for pets or amusement is also threatening chimpanzees, not to mention it leaves to a poor life for the chimp. Jane Goodall estimates that for every baby chimp taken illegally for the pet trade, 10 are killed since the chimpanzee family will try and protect the baby chimp. Source: Save Chimpanzees from Extinction.

Help Save Chimpanzees

• Click to Feed a Rescued Primate, each click generates donations from sponsors. You may click once a day, every day. 100% of the donations raised go directly to the Jane Goodall Institute, which runs sanctuaries in Africa where orphaned chimpanzees can be cared for and given the chance to live reasonably full lives in spacious conditions.
• Sign the petition Stop the Bushmeat Trade/Hunting of Primates
• Volunteer with chimpanzees at IDA Africa In Defense of Animals
• Shop at the Jane Goodall Institute. Profits generated help save chimpanzees
• Purchase artwork done by chimpanzees at IDA Africa.
• Adopt a chimpanzee at Save the Chimps, a chimpanzee sanctuary in Florida
• Sign a petition to Ban Primate Experiments in Europe
• Check out more chimpanzee volunteer opportunities with Save Chimpanzees from Extinction

Thank you for taking actions to help save chimpanzees!If you like monkeys, you may also like:  Cute Monkey Pictures & Monkey Mountain in Germany

Proboscis Monkey Facts and How You Can Save Them

Ladies, on the right you are looking at a very handsome male proboscis monkey. How do I know this? Why by the size of his nose of course! Large noses on males are considered attractive to females, - the bigger the better! Noses on male proboscis monkeys can be up to 7 inches long! Females also have large noses but not nearly as big as the males noses.

The noses also amplify warning calls and the more upset the proboscis monkey is the larger the nose gets and the louder the warning call!


Why the Proboscis Monkey Needs Our Help
Proboscis monkeys only live in Malaysian Borneo and are threatened by habitat loss and hunting. Habitat is extremely important for any animal, but especially the proboscis monkey who requires such a specialized habitat and can only thrive in one place in the entire world. There are ~ 3000 proboscis monkeys and they are a threatened species.


Help Save the Proboscis Monkey

• Sign a Proboscis Monkey Petition which will be sent to the Malaysian Minster of Tourism and to the Indonesian Minister of Forestry showing your support for the proboscis monkey and their habitat.
• Sign up for Save the Proboscis Monkey on Facebook.
• Volunteer with Proboscis Monkeys in Borneo.

Thank you for taking actions to help save the proboscis monkey!
Photo courtesy of: Austin King
If you like primates check out these links:
Cute Monkey Pictures  
Monkey Mountain in Germany
Observing Endangered Samango Monkeys in iSimangaliso Wetland Park 
Cheeky Vervet Monkeys in Uganda
Macaques in Thailand