“My job now is to try and help people understand every one of us makes a difference. And cumulatively, wise choices in how we act each day can begin to change the world.” Jane Goodall
I know what your thinking...something else in danger? I'm not even there, what am I supposed to do? We feel the daily call to action in so many ways it's overwhelming. We can't help it; it's in our nature to help, protect, and defend.
WhatDO we do? WhatCAN we do? WhatWILL we do? Today, you don't have toDOanything, just be inspired and entertained, gain a bit of knowledge about something new. I imagine you had a plan to do that anyways starting with your cup of morning brew.
Allow me introduce you to a troop of Magical Monkeys - The Azuero Howler Monkey. They can only be found in this small area of Southwest Panama and are disappearing fast. Here in Morrillo, we are grateful to be able share a slice of Jungle Paradise with a troop of 14.
These little beauties (2-3ft in height, approx. 10-15lbs) live up in the jungle canopy, rarely venturing to the forest floor. Their diet consists of mostly leaves, but they mix it up with nuts, flowers, and the variety of juicy jungle fruits. They hydrate through digestion which requires a lot of energy. Hence, the howl!
A lot like a child trying to find his Mom at home, they howl at the top of their lungs to save on the energy of having to go swinging through the forest to communicate. In fact, they are the LOUDEST mammals on the planet (just in case you thought your child was). Here is a quick clip of the dominant male monkey here giving it everything he's got:
I hope you weren't in the library when you watched that clip!
Only the dominant male of each troop is the one making all the noise which is a good thing - can you imagine a 14 monkey wake-up call? Eventually when the mature males and females leave the troop in search of a new one or to start their own, they use their howl to communicate between troops, establish territory, and dominance.
Speaking of wake-up calls here is a sweet clip of Momma monkeys with newborn babies. It is a relief to see the monkeys having babies however unfortunate it may be that they don't have long-term genetic viability now bringing them closer to extinction.
We do our best to support this remarkable species of monkey through tree planting, respect their presence by not interfering or interacting with them, and through education and appreciation.
Thank you for being entertained during your precious Sunday morning coffee hour. This learning experience is the key to protecting these monkeys and any endangered species.
I would love to hear from you and what you think about our little coffee talks! I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy sharing them with you.
Your Friends in Morrillo
Cari and Ryan Mackey
Owners and Hosts