The Squirrel Monkeys of Tiskita - Helping to save an endangered species
"The answer is to buy land, protect it, and manage it to maintain second-growth forest.” Sue Boinski, Squirrel Monkey Researcher and professor of Anthropology and Comparative Medicine, University of Florida.
The Central American squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedi) or “Mono Tití”, in Spanish, is the smallest of the four monkey species found in Costa Rica. Squirrel monkeys are only twelve inches in size and one and a half to two pounds in weight. These primates are critically endangered, and found only along the southwest coast of Costa Rica with a few surviving precariously in northwest Panama. Their populations have declined in the last few decades as their forest habitat has been cleared for cattle pastures, banana and oil palm plantations and human communities. It is estimated about 3000 of these monkeys exist today.
The good news is that rates of deforestation have declined in Costa Rica in recent years. At Tiskita, through the Tiskita Foundation, Peter has purchased more land and in areas cut by previous owners, he has planted trees creating secondary forest. As a result, populations of this endearing monkey not only appear to be thriving here, we believe they are increasing. Consequently at Tiskita visitors have an excellent opportunity of seeing these energetic little monkeys, although we can’t guarantee they’ll hold still for a picture!
