The Effects of Deforestation on Howler Monkeys: A Short Film
Executive director Vicki Coan founded Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary in the 1990s after a life changing experience caring for an orphaned baby howler monkey whom she named Zoe.
Today the sanctuary has expanded to roughly fifty acres of spacious jungle habitat where howlers are able to recover, rehabilitate and in many cases, remain for the duration of their natural lives.
Located near Nosara, Costa Rica, the sanctuary is situated within an area with a rapidly expanding human population.
Roads for cars and hotels and tourism infrastructure segment the forest habitat of the howler monkeys who use the tree canopy to move from one tree to the next, foraging for food.
When roads and power lines cut through their path, the monkeys are forced to go down to the ground to cross or cross the power lines directly. Dog attacks, car strikes and electrocution are everyday threats to the monkeys.
Joey and Goldie (pictured above) were both victims of electrocution at different times. Joey was just a baby riding on his mothers back when they were both electrocuted on the power lines. Joey lived, although blinded in one eye, but his mother did not survive.
Blinded in both eyes by electrocution, Goldie had remained at the sanctuary, becoming a loving surrogate mother to Joey and many other young howlers.
Learn more about Sibu Sanctuary at sibusanctuary.org and on Instagram at @sibu_wildlife_sanctuary.
