Back From the Brink

This is an undated handout photo issued Monday July 19, 2010 by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) of a Horton Plains slender loris, sitting on a forest branch in a mountain forest in central Sri Lanka.

Researchers say they photographed the rare primate thought to have been extinct for more than 60 years in a forest in central Sri Lanka.

The Zoological Society of London said in a statement on Monday that a Horton Plains slender loris with wide eyes and short limbs has been caught on camera by ZSL and Sri Lankan researchers after they surveyed forest patches for more than 200 hours, looking for signs of the primate.

(AP Photo/Zoological Society of London/Ho)

Check Out New Entries in our Letters from the Field Blog

What the heck happened to this monkey's nose? Absolutely nothing. He's a proboscis monkey and he's endangered. You may never have seen one because they typically can't survive in zoos. Our newest blogger, Danica Stark, writes two blogs from Borneo about these quirky-looking, big nosed, pot bellied monkeys. Check out her blogs to find out about where and how they live, why they can't survive in captivity, and why they are endangered.

In her latest entry, Piping Plover, Kaitlyn-Elizabeth Foley writes during her vacation at home in Rhode Island about this beautiful and endangered little local bird and how to protect it. Continue to watch Kaitlyn's blog when she returns to Malaysia later in July and reports on more wildlife there.

William O'Neill contributes his experiences working at a sanctuary for orphaned orangutans in Borneo. You'll meet Gus, his unruly charge, Aman, a mighty alpha male, Doris, the apple of Bill's eye, and a host of other orangutans living in and around the sanctuary.

Letters From the Field is a blog written by professionals who are studying or working with animals in their natural habitats. It is a compilation of their stories and experiences. Watch for new contributors who will write about their experiences with a variety of nonhuman primates and other animal species found throughout the world. Bookmark the page and check back often.

Photo Credit: Bjorn Christian Torrissen

October 4 is World Animal Day

World Animal Day celebrates humankind's unique relationship with the animal kingdom, and acknowledges the numerous ways in which animals enrich our lives.

World Animal Day is celebrated around the world by organizations, groups, clubs, schools, places of worship and individual animal-loving members of the public. You don't have to be involved in animal welfare in any way at all; you just have to care about animals. The World Animal Day website is full of ideas of ways you can get involved in World Animal Day. 

Join the International Celebration of Animals, World Animal Day, October 4, 2010.

The Monkey Bible

COMING in SEPTEMBER 2010

The Monkey Bible, a novel by Mark Laxer, is an exploration of the line — both scientific and mythological — which separates humans from non-human animals. It is an exploration of the line which separates science from religion. It is an exploration of the need in humans for creation myths, constructive or otherwise, and for storytelling. It is an exploration of what it means to be human and an exploration of the hierarchical nature of our social structures. It is a timely and necessary plea to slightly alter the stories by which humans define themselves as a way to protect life, and in particular the human species, from extinction.

Here's what we have to say about the book:

"The Monkey Bible weaves a tapestry of fantasy and reality, truth, myth and science and lures us into a journey that challenges us to think about who and what we believe we are. As we join Emmanuel on his voyage of self-discovery, the line that separates human and non-human primates blurs. Then, just when we are most open to encountering any possibilities, Laxer unfolds before us, via Lucy’s eloquence, the impact that each of us has on protecting, maintaining, and preserving the Earth’s fragile biodiversity for the benefit of our collective futures. Now, that’s a good story.

Eric Maring’s The Line is a great companion music CD too – fun, thought-provoking, good music!" ~ Debra Curtin, President and Founder, New England Primate Sanctuary

Read other reviews

Learn more about the Monkey Bible multimedia project

Watch for the book and accompanying music CD, The Line, coming in later this summer.

How Could You?

An essay by Jim Willis, How Could You, is a companion dog's perspective on the responsibilities and potential consequences of pet guardianship. Mr. Willis hopes to impart to readers the love and care that our pet companions deserve, and the responsibilities that we bear to find them fitting homes if our life circumstances can no longer provide for their care. It is a beautiful and touching essay about loyalty and betrayal. Read on.

Fifteen Legs

When all that stands between death and freedom is a ride ...

If you have not already seen it, be sure to watch the PBS documentary, Fifteen Legs. If you have already seen it, watch it again to be reminded of what a remarkable journey many lucky pets make on the road to home.

Fifteen Legs is a 2009 CINE Golden Eagle Award Winner for good reason. This is the story of animals who have run out of time. It's about the people who save them at the eleventh hour. It's the story of where they go next, and how they get there.

This is a remarkable, compelling and inspiring story. Check the Fifteen Legs website, or your local PBS station, for air dates and more information. Or purchase the DVD at Amazon.com. You'll be glad you did.

New for Teachers: New England Primate Sanctuary's Lesson Plans

New England Primate Sanctuary's Humane Education Team is delighted to present its unique lesson plans developed under the auspices of Education Program Director, Veronica Ramos.

The curriculum, which includes lesson plans for grades K-12, is based on National Standards and takes into consideration the needs of many disciplines. Veronica and her team have developed curricula which are accessible to teachers wishing to implement them into their classroom programs, as well as the home schooled.

If you are a teacher, we invite you to use these lesson plans and provide us with feedback. For those lesson plans that encourage story or poetry development by students, we would love it if you would share their stories and poems with us. You might just find some of them published on our website.

If you are a parent or a student, we invite you to recommend the lesson plans to your teachers. Unit 1 is now available for K-4 and high school. Middle school units will be available soon.  

At New England Primate Sanctuary, we are dedicated to education, the care and protection of animals, habitat conservation, and ecological balance. The sanctuary tangibly represents the need for animal protection. It is their permanent refuge for safe, more natural lives. New England Primate Sanctuary is a vehicle for education for people and a safe haven for animals.

View this and other webisodes about our work, plans, and the needs for animal sanctuary here.

Donating Is Easier Than Ever

Now you can donate online via Network for Good or PayPal, whichever option you prefer.

With Network for Good, you can opt to make a one-time donation, recurring monthly, quarterly, or annually. You can also make gift donations. In each case, you select the denomination.

With PayPal, you can select a one-time donation in the denomination of your choice or recurring monthly donations.

Recurring donations enable you meet your annual giving goal in affordable increments.

Check out the Donate page for more. We are always so very grateful for your support