Miguelito

When I began the journey of finding my place in the wildlife conservation community, I did not think I would be focusing the bulk of my attention on primates. That quickly changed in 2018 when I met Miguelito.

Miguelito was an adult male red howler monkey living in Madre De Dios Peru, and easily one of the most beautiful monkeys I’ve ever seen. I was encouraged to exercise caution around Miguelito, as an adult male living alone with his mate Patricia and on the road to release, he did not typically have close contact with humans. Still, over time he and I developed a healthy and peaceful friendship. I’d approach his enclosure and rub his fur and offer him fresh leaves. After a while we had a little routine where I’d pass his hidden enclosure two to three times a day for some quality interaction.

The relationship shifted, however, the day Miguelito was due for blood tests and a health exam. These exams are required by the Peruvian government before a widlife sanctuary can release a rescued animal, especially a primate. This is to protect the local fauna from any diseases the animal may have contracted while in close proximity to humans and other animals. For a monkey of Miguelito’s size and demeanor, these tests could only be achieved through sedation.

At the time I was working with a vet from Lima. His name was Dr. Martin. Together he and I sedated and examined dozens of monkeys over the span of several days. Miguelito was last on the list.

Miguelito was clever and brave. Sedating him did not come without challenge after challenge. We attempted dart methods, trick methods, and dangerous net and capture methods, all of which failed miserably. By the late afternoon, we were all exhausted, monkey included. The Peruvian sun beat down on us in the middle of the humid, rainy season. Mosquitos feasted on our unprotected flesh and we became delirious with defeat. Dr. Martin approached me and said, “Miguelito likes you, you’ll have to be the one to do it.” The fact that he “liked” me made it hard, very hard. I would break the trust and relationship we’ve built. Not that he needed it. He was probably better off without it in fact, that didn’t make it any less hard on me.

I had to do what I had to do, and so I came up with a plan. Animals prepped for sedation are typically fasted to prevent them from vomiting once under. Miguelito hadn’t eaten for hours and was hungry. The sedative we were administering could be given orally. Although less effective, it would be effective enough to allow us to go in and further sedate. So, I decided to remove the needle and wrap the syringe in his favorite leaves. Once he took a bite, I hit the plunger and squirted the foul medicine in his mouth. He stumbled backward and looked at me with confusion and anger. He had never looked at me that way before. In that moment my heart broke, and he lunged towards my face. I backed away from his enclosure, tears in my eyes as he furiously tried to grab me through the gate.

That moment taught me a lot about working with primates. I realized it was all so much deeper than it seems. It was an awakening moment for me. Here we have such cognitively advanced animals, ones that require interaction and stimulation to develop properly and who’s intelligence is challenging to work through. They know too much to make our jobs easy, but not enough to know we’re here to help. In primate rehabilitation we walk a fine line between a healthy relationship and unhealthy interactions, and the jury is still out on what exactly is best for these animals during the rehabilitation process. I decided in that moment to dedicate my life to finding healthy, practical and effective ways to rehabilitate and care for rescued new world monkeys.

I’m happy to say today that Miguelito was released in September 2019. Today, both he and his mate Patricia are free animals living deep in the undisturbed Amazon.