An Update from the Owl Monkey Woods..

Excuse me in not keeping up with this blog in a while. It's been an insanely busy month. So I figure while I take a much needed break from studying, I'll insert a synopsis of what's been going on in the owl monkey woods!

Pinegirl & Yanni, before urine collection.

As far as urine collection, the four pairs we've been working with are certainly getting more accustomed to our operant conditioning with marshmallows. More often now I can collect urine from both male and female on the same evening, then like clockwork, they look at me longingly as if to say: "Hey human! Where is my marshmallow?!" At least, that's what I can imagine.

Connie isn't doing as bad as we previously thought. The youth program compiled data on her eating patterns and it seems they havn't changed much since Spruce was originally removed. Which is a relief, we only observe them too well I suppose. (;

Last week there was an event hosted by FIU with Sian talking about monkeys, FIU also had Mireya Mayor come give a talk as part of the QBIC program. Go FIU for getting more involved with the Conservancy, and taking an interest in Primatology!

http://news.fiu.edu/2012/03/fiu-primatologist-to-talk-monkey-business-chasing-dreams/37717

http://news.fiu.edu/2012/03/nfl-cheerleader-turned-scientist-to-give-lecture-at-fiu/37394

On a personal note, I took a day during my spring break road trip to go find the Rhesus Macaques that are free ranging along the Silver River in central Florida. Result? Mission accomplished! For seeing wild monkeys for the first time, it was beautiful. It only managed to fuel my passion even more - because they need us, they need me.

Juvenile Rhesus Macaques along the Silver River.
(Photo credit: Christian Rodriguez)

Long lost urine...

I found myself watching monkeys last night, or lately I should say and when they urinate the thought that goes through my head is always along the lines of: "Nooo! Long lost urine! You could've been mine!" Yes, it's that serious. Almost heartbreaking at moments, especially when an individual urinates that you had been trying so hard to collect from.

Mrs. Fuzzy, begging: "Please?"

Mr. Fuzzy eating his marshmallows, after feverishly rubbing himself.

Alas, it's been an insanely busy week at the Conservancy. Today there was about 11 people in the woods (unhappy face insert here). WAY too many people. Thank God for Larissa who was watching Spruce be re-introduced to Connie with me, I had to hand her my clipboard half way through, because I had a migraine I felt was splitting my head in two. Spruce is on the floor. At least, that is where I left him. I think Connie smells Lilac on him and is super pissed off. I'm sure in the wild she would have rejected him. I mean, wouldn't you reject someone who left you for someone else? If only I could talk to her I'd say: "It wasn't his choice, it was ours, silly humans - and he was very unhappy." Maybe he'll speak up for himself and they can chill out again, all our cortisol levels could go down.

I had another run in with anointing yesterday. I had a photoshoot with the Fuzzies. Literally, that's what it felt like. Oh, and they asked me to anoint them. When they ran out of cinnamon coated marshmallows they looked at me, face to face, almost begging me...so I rubbed them with my cinnamon paper. They were in heaven. Obviously, they derive pleasure from this. Who can watch them and say they don't? Only someone with no common sense.

Connection and communication that occurs
without words is the most amazing kind.