RAFIKI-SPIDER MONKEY Baby

Rafiki is a male Spider Monkey of approximately 17 years old. For over 13 years he was chained to a gas tank in a private house on the island of Cozumel, Mexico. His owners bought Rafiki as a pet; but as they were afraid of him, they had him chained and left him on his own for every day and night.

Luckily, Rafiki was able to escape and with the support of the organizations Ecología de Cozumel and PROFEPA (Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection), and they brought him to his new home at the Primate Pets.

Since his arrival at the Sanctuary, he has taken part in different enrichment, conditioning and socialization programs. Due the deplorable conditions he was living in for so many years, Rafiki suffered a lot of mental damage. After 3 years at the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary, we were able to integrate him with two female Spider Monkeys, and the results are good and stable.

Currently, Rafiki lives in his habitat together with Mimi and Moni, two female Spider Monkeys that also lived for several years pets. He has come a long way from where he first arrived, but he still needs specialized care.