Neotropical Primate Conservation Grant Update
F
unding from Wild Futures allowed NPC to visit four rescue centres in September 2015. The visits were programmed by an order of the Wildlife Authorities of San Martin, and were run by Patricia Mendoza (veterinary specialist in wildlife epidemiology) and Dr. Noga Shanee (NPC’s biodiversity management specialist). Veterinarians María Belén Aguirre and Alexa Suárez Felice joined us for two of the visits, assisting with the sedation process. Each of the four visits encompassed a general evaluation of the centre, enclosures, constructions, staff capacities, and the physical health and behavior of the animals present. The keepers at each of the centres participated in all aspects of the visits and were encouraged to learn from the process and to ask about the different animals’ health, behaviors and possible treatments.
The main clinical interventions in the centers were as follows:
Puka Lluicho, 7 September 2015
- Clinical evaluation and treatment recommendations made for the treatment of a parrot (Amazona festiva) with ruptured cervical air sacs.
- Clinical evaluation and recommendations made for the treatment of a free ranging saddle-back tamarin monkey (Saguinus fuscicollis) with a problem in a hind leg. Possibly a case of osteodystrophy by nutritional deficiencies, but X-rays would be needed to confirm.
Biodiversidad, 8 September 2015
– Clinical evaluation of two juvenile capuchin monkeys, taking blood, saliva and feces samples to assess their health and discard the possibility of infectious agents.
Chullachaqui, 8-9 September 2015
- Two capuchin monkeys sedated for physical examination and blood, saliva, and feces samples. Antiparasitics and amino acids administered to both.
Tamushal, 9 September 2015
- Physical examination and sampling of spider monkey (Ateles belzebuth) with distended abdomen. Diagnosed with ascites and splenomegaly.
- Capuchin monkey (Cebus albifrons) with fly larvae in the chest under the skin. The larvae was extracted and the wound cleaned.
- Blood, saliva, and feces samples taken from 8 primates of different species.
- Anti-parasitics administered to the dog and coati.
Analysis of samples was carried out to the extent possible at Morales Lab in Tarapoto. However, many of the required tests are not available in Peru and so these have not yet been carried out. We are currently in dialogue with multiple institutions (including Primates Peru in Peru/US, the University of San Marcos in Lima, the University of San Martin in Tarapoto, Morales Lab in Tarapoto, Tufts University in the US and the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 in Lima) to make sure that these tests become
available here for rescued primates to avoid release of sick animals to the wild. We aim to be able to run all necessary tests inside Peru by July 2016.
Generally, since the beginning of this grant period (July 2015) NPC has been involved in the reporting, rescue, confiscation, care and/or transport of 1078 animals.