Primarily Primates Newsletter
Autumn 2009


The Fruit of a New Alliance: The Primarily Primates Advisory Board

Autumn 2009

Update from Priscilla Feral , President

Servals at Primarily Primates, Photo: Jane Seymour

Anticipating the future. Moving to higher levels of excellence. ensuring the highest quality of care for every individual who is provided sanctuary at Primarily Primates. It is all part of what we’re doing and how we’re incorporating alliances of caring, dedicated, and knowledgeable people. We are pleased to announce the creation of the Primarily Primates Advisory Board.

The board includes two veterinarians—Diane McClure, DVM, Phd, DAClAM, and Elysse Orchard, DVM—joined by animal behavior consultant Traci Shreyer, MA. All three are experienced in working with primates and animals in need of sanctuary. Dr. Orchard has cared for chimpanzees in several sanctuaries, both in the United States and Africa.

Ring-tailed lemur at Primarily Primates, Photo: Jane Seymour

The group visited our sanctuary together for a two-day meeting in June. They arrived with fresh herbs, large plastic barrels, peanut-filled enrichment toys, and black bean cakes. everyone enjoyed the days. Both Elysee Orchard and Traci Shreyer had visited Primarily Primates several years ago, and are pleased to see our commitment to the care and mental well-being of our residents, and all of the recent improvements to the property. Particularly noticeable are the large enclosures, including trees, shrubs, and bushes creating a naturalistic and complex environment for the lemurs and spider monkeys. “To see the spider monkeys climb across the tree tops,” says Traci Shreyer, “is joyful.”

The meeting also included the director and care staff, as well as our veterinarian, Dr. Valerie Kirk, DVM. “Grand rounds” will be held monthly through remote communication, with the advisory board helping us to meet the needs of the animals we care for.

 

A Brown lemur at Primarily Primates, Photo: Jane Seymour

The idea to create an Association of Sanctuary Veterinarians was an exciting offshoot of this meeting. There is great excitement about the effect this will also have on the lives of animals. Dr. McClure recently set up a secure, on-line venue for veterinary case discussions. This will be a forum for veterinary community involvement in helping to solve difficult medical and emotional difficulties for residents of many sanctuaries.
“The Advisory Board is also here to provide continued, independent oversight—checks and balances by knowledgeable people in the field,” says dr. Orchard. “We are committed to maintaining independence and offering honest opinions.”
“That is when we can offer the best advice and support,” says Shreyer. “That is when we can create plans that best support the sanctuary team’s concerns.” “It is time for us to all focus on the animals and their needs,” says dr. McClure. We should all learn from the past, focus on the future, and work together. This is how we will make the biggest difference for PPI and the greater sanctuary community.”

Success and Gratitude

Update from Priscilla Feral, President

Spider monkeys in new wooded habitat at Primarily Primates, Photo: Jane Seymour

During my visit to Primarily Primates in late August, we received great news. After a long mediation session over a lawsuit PeTA had funded against Primarily Primates to forbid the housing of “dangerous, wild animals” at our refuge, the dispute was settled to the mutual satisfaction of the parties—meaning all the chimpanzees, baboons and big cats at Primarily Primates are safe, their futures secured.

We celebrated with bananas for everyone! All the monkeys, lemurs, chimpanzees and gibbons partook of 21 free cases given to director Stephen Tello by a friendly grocer, the owner of labatt food Service who supports the sanctuary in this kind and festive way.

Thanks to all of our members for helping us sustain our efforts in the past year since the lawsuit was filed. The settlement allows us to devote our energies to the work ahead—providing top quality care for the refuge’s 450 primates, birds, and other animals.

 

 

Welcome to Bukama, Baylor and Momo

Nyere, a Black and White Colobus Monkey at Primarily Primates, Photo: John Jennings

One new arrival to Primarily Primates is Bukama, a 20-year-old Black and White Colobus monkey released from an Indianapolis zoo that folded in September. Bukama will be introduced to Nyere, another Black and White Colobus, who was living with her mother, now deceased. Nyere’s and Bukama’s enclosure overlooks a two-acre pond that’s used as a native rehabilitation area for injured and infirmed ducks, swans, geese, cranes and other birds.

Two more new arrivals are Baylor and Momo, Ring-tailed lemurs who were pets in an Austin household. Both have made an easy, great adjustment to outside living and new care.

Rhesus Macaques Kumarand Puck find a Good Home

Kimchi, a gibbon, at Primarily Primates

Two macaques, Kumar (aged 8) and Puck (16), arrived at Primarily Primates in September. Both had been used in vision research in California. The two are settling in together in their new outside enclosure among other macaques.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mallory faces Surgery

Mallory, a chimpanzee at Primarily Primates, Photo: Stephen Telo

In late September, Mallory, a 26-year-old chimpanzee who was once part of a breeding program at New York’s now defunct laboratory for experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates, will undergo a hysterectomy. Mallory was released to PPI in 1997, at age 13, prior to ever conceiving. Dr. Valerie Kirk, our on-site veterinarian, in late April of 2009 diagnosed acute kidney failure, and an enlarged uterus compromising urine flow from the kidneys to bladder. Dr. Kirk treated Mallory’s kidney failure successfully and believes Mallory is now healthy enough to have a hysterectomy to correct the uterine problem.

The operation is expensive, and Mallory will also need post-operative care. We welcome financial support from members.

Meanwhile, Mallory is part of a dynamic group of seven chimpanzees, including Amy, Jewel, Deeter, Hope and two year-old Grace, and 39 year-old Stella, in one of our newest and most expansive grassy enclosures. The group is keen on plums, grapes and bananas.

Ways You Can Help

Each year, we’ll plan and expect to be on solid footing to care for the animals who need us. By investing in Primarily Primates, you strengthen our work to run a model refuge with high standards, committed to lifetime respect and care. Please support us today with your kind donation, and know you’re appreciated for being a part of our team.

Best wishes,

Priscilla Feral, President

Stephen Rene Tello, Executive Director

Many Thanks...

Many thanks to Girl Scouts from Plano, Texas who attended an evening day camp and then delivered three cases of Treat Tubes filled with nuts and cereal for the enjoyment of the sanctuary’s gibbons and monkeys.

Thanks also to eagle Scouts in San Antonio who, in late August, designed and built an impressive outdoor deck for PPI’s two mountain lions, Jesse and James.

Labatt Food Service in San Antonio frequently donates cases of fresh fruits and vegetables to PPI to feed the sanctuary’s primates. One week we retrieve bags of baby carrots and pears, and the next week receive celery, lettuce and bananas. PPI is most grateful to labatt for their kind generosity.

Jesse, a mountain lion, at Primarily Primates Buck and Mandy or Holly, with carrots, at Primarily Primates A spider monkey at Primarily Primates

Wish List

Our animal care staff asked for the following food items to offer the animals in their care.

* 50 pound bags of unsalted, unshelled peanuts

* Dried apricots and other dried fruit

* Other unsalted nuts, shelled or unshelled

* Unsalted popcorn

* Coconuts

* Pears, plums, apples, melons and other fresh fruit

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