The Jungle Place in Chemuyil - A Must See!!!

[Michele]

I don't think it's any kind of secret that my husband loves monkeys. I mean really, really loves them. For some kids, the wish every year at Christmas is for a puppy. Others, like myself become obsessed with horses. For Rob, it was all about the monkeys and it's an interest he has held onto even into adulthood. You can imagine my delight when, in the process of planning a spectacular weekend to celebrate my sweetie's 40th, I stumbled upon some interesting comments on the web about a spider monkey sanctuary just down the road in Chemuyil! This mysterious habitat, The Jungle Place, sounded like just the right kind of unforgetable destination for Rob and the kids to enjoy together on his birthday.

See more here!!

[melliedee]

How cool! Thanks for this, Michele. I love monkeys too.

Do you need to make arrangements beforehand with the owners to visit, or is the sanctuary open certain days/hours and you can just show up?

[Cosmo]

Thanks Michele, that looks like a fun thing to do. Rob seems to be more than pleased, like he has found his tribe...

[Michele]

Originally Posted by melliedee

How cool! Thanks for this, Michele. I love monkeys too.

Do you need to make arrangements beforehand with the owners to visit, or is the sanctuary open certain days/hours and you can just show up?

It is important to make arrangements ahead of time so they can be prepared for you. If there is another group there at the same time, you will not get the same experience, I don't think.

This is interesting: The Bahia Principe resort, in an effort to find more ways to make money off of their guests, offered to bring 60 people a day to The Jungle Place to see the monkeys! Do the math, $15 x 60 everyday?!?! Heidi and Joel turned it down because they didn't think it was in the best interest of the mental and physical state of the animals. That's the kind of dedication they have to their furry charges.

The email address for Heidi is info[at]thejungleplace.com
Website address www[dot]thejungleplace[dot]com

[PlayaLove]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures,I think it is something I would love to do next time we are there. Glad they turned down the resort,I think it was the right decision.

[Michele]

Originally Posted by PlayaLove

Thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures,I think it is something I would love to do next time we are there. Glad they turned down the resort,I think it was the right decision.

We thought so too. Think about all the viruses that 60 people a day could introduce to the sanctuary.

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by Michele

It is important to make arrangements ahead of time so they can be prepared for you. If there is another group there at the same time, you will not get the same experience, I don't think.

This is interesting: The Bahia Principe resort, in an effort to find more ways to make money off of their guests, offered to bring 60 people a day to The Jungle Place to see the monkeys! Do the math, $15 x 60 everyday?!?! Heidi and Joel turned it down because they didn't think it was in the best interest of the mental and physical state of the animals. That's the kind of dedication they have to their furry charges.

The email address for Heidi is info[at]thejungleplace.com
Website address www[dot]thejungleplace[dot]com

Thank you! I am going to check this out in July.

[Michele]

I just received a nice note from Dr. Linda Duchin who we met while visiting the monkeys at The Jungle Place. She sent me some more information about the spider monkeys that I thought you monkey fans might find interesting.


SPIDER MONKEYS of the YUCATAN
(Ateles geoffroyi yucatanensis)


Spider monkeys are among the largest New World monkeys (weighing up to 11kg). They are primarily fruit-eaters. They will also eat leaves, flowers, and seeds from a large variety of plants, but ripe fruit makes up 75-93% of their diet. Spider monkeys live and sleep in the highest trees in evergreen tropical rain forests.

Like all higher primates, these monkeys have grasping fingers and toes with nails and tactile (touch) pads, that we call fingerprints. There is also a tactile pad with ridges at the end of the tail (tail print!), that allows them to grasp and hang on with just their tail. Spider monkeys are one of the few monkeys in the world with this specialized
‘prehensile’ tail. They are also the only monkeys that swing by their arms. The only other animals that brachiate (arm-over-arm traveling) are apes. With their long limbs and a long prehensile tail, they are completely adapted for life in the trees.

Spider monkeys are also unique among monkeys because of their social organization. They live in large extended-family troops of males, females and their young. Their societies are called ‘fission-fusion’ groups, because they break into smaller groups when foraging for food, then the whole group comes back together. When they join together again, they embrace each other and groom each other’s hair.

Spider monkeys are very social, forming long lasting bonds with each other. Males’ strongest bonds are with other males (often their relatives), and juvenile males are anxious to leave mom and join the big boys. Females’ strongest bonds are with their babies, adult daughters, and other females.

Females give birth to one infant, who nurses for up to two years, and is completely dependent on mother for three years. Like all primates (except us), babies use their strong grasping fingers and toes to cling to the mom’s front; older babies are carried on the mother’s back. The long juvenile stage is filled with learning. Like other monkeys (and apes), these primates have very large brains, and most of what they do is learned rather than instinctive.

Spider monkeys are friendly, curious and intelligent. They are gentle and peaceful with only one major predator: humans. Their habitat is threatened, and they are still being hunted.

They among the most highly endangered monkeys in the Western Hemisphere.

[Laura Mapchick]

We visited The Jungle PLace last summer, it was a great experience, the highlight of our trip
Heidi and Joel are great people!

[Michele]

Originally Posted by Laura Mapchick

We visited The Jungle PLace last summer, it was a great experience, the highlight of our trip
Heidi and Joel are great people!

We were amazed by the operation they have put together, just the two of them. I can't believe more people don't know about it!

[HoneyB]

but I think I'd spring for a night at this place. I'm a soft touch for animals!

Thanks for writing about this place.

B

[ElainaM]

Thanks for posting this Michelle. Very interesting. You've got some great photos there. I love the one of Cole with the monkey on his lap.

[redhairgirl1]

This is so cool! Loved your story, and pic's! Mel and i will definently make it down there in July.

So, if we take the colectivo to the entrance is it a far walk from there? Where should we ask the driver to drop us off? Thanks!

[Michele]

Originally Posted by redhairgirl1

This is so cool! Loved your story, and pic's! Mel and i will definently make it down there in July.

So, if we take the colectivo to the entrance is it a far walk from there? Where should we ask the driver to drop us off? Thanks!

Just ask for Chemuyil Pueblo. There is a very obvious sign marking the entrance and a large pass-over pedestrian walkway. Can't miss it.


FYI - I had a really nice time talking to your pal Raquelle on Friday night at PG's!!

[Michele]

Originally Posted by ElainaM

Thanks for posting this Michelle. Very interesting. You've got some great photos there. I love the one of Cole with the monkey on his lap.

He, he...Rob thinks they look alike!

[redhairgirl1]

Originally Posted by Michele

Just ask for Chemuyil Pueblo. There is a very obvious sign marking the entrance and a large pass-over pedestrian walkway. Can't miss it.


FYI - I had a really nice time talking to your pal Raquelle on Friday night at PG's!!

Thanks for all the info Michele and yes, Raquelle is great! Don't you just love her accent?