Weibke is the resident manager of a 30-some year ongoing project that studies the Capuchins and runs 8 or so interns plus a couple other employees year round. Their home base is in Bagaces (where we live) and they go out into the field each day from sun up until sun down and follow the monkeys all along the river studying everything from social structures to their poo. They work seven days a week taking turns in the field and at the house working with the data, and each gets one day a week that they are responsible to cook for the entire house. They work every day for the entire month until the last five days, which they all have off. What an amazing experience for the lucky ones selected to be a part of the project!!! Albeit a lot of work to say the least!!
Anyway, Weibke invited Jessica (one of our interns for Chile Town) and I for a visit out in the field. We geared up with all of the hiking gear, water, snacks, boots, pants, bug spray, sunscreen, etc. etc. etc. and met at her house at 6am. We drove to the park station and got ready to head out. As we were heading to the trail, we came across a large group of howler monkeys, the same that we have on the farm. It was a large group and they were very loud which is just fun to see! After watching them for about 10 minutes or so we kept going and ended up finding a group of Capuchins in a clearing before the trail. There were two of the Monkey people studying them and I was just amazed at how socialized the monkeys were. They went about their business without a care in the world that we were there.
Weibke did ask us to turn the flash off of our cameras as the light did disturb the monkeys. This particular group was one that they study daily and are very used to the humans in their faces:) The hardest part was restraining myself from trying to pet one:) So there we were, watching these guys eat their mango's and play, groom each other, sleep, etc... We spent about an hour or so just watching them, taking pictures, and just drinking it all it. It was a truly amazing experience!
After the clearing, we headed for our original destination, a path along the river called "Riverview" which we hiked for about 20 minutes to a spot that they typically find Monkeys but none were there at that particular time. We hiked back and went the other way along a different path which took us to a small waterfall. We climbed down and stuck our head in to cool off before heading back for the afternoon.
It was an amazing experience to say the least. I am so lucky to be here and do and see all of these amazing things and I am truly grateful. A BIG thanks to my lovely hubby to got to brave an entire day with the two boys!!
Here are a few pics and a video of the monkeys playing! Enjoy:)
These two were showing us their teeth - a sign that we are annoying them!
Brother grooming sister (picking bugs off and eating them)!!
