One of the most popular spots here in the southern zone is Hacienda Baru. http://www.haciendabaru.com/ The ever-popular owner Jack Hewing and his adventurous wife Diane were some of the first North American conservationist in Costa Ballena area. Their continued efforts to educate the community are well appreciated by the residents and tourist alike. Here is one of my favorite articles by Jack.
MONKEY BUSINESS AND ECOLOGICAL TOURISM
Two Good Things that Are Good for Each Other
They looked like a bunch of teenagers goofing around, teasing each other and just hanging out. About eight altogether, most were up in the trees, laying on branches with arms and legs dangling over the sides, or sitting, munching on something, but occasionally one would run to the ground, venture out a few meters from the base of the tree, and quickly scamper back up. None of the monkeys were very large bodied, and from their demeanor I imagined that they were a group of juveniles off by themselves, temporarily separated from the main troop.
Something got their attention. Leisure activity ceased and all looked in the same direction. After a minute a fat female raccoon with two small offspring in tow came into view, sniffing around on the forest floor. The monkeys watched them for a minute, chattered amongst themselves, eventually descended to the ground, gathered at the base of a large strangler fig and again appeared to be in some sort of discussion. They lined up, side by side, standing upright; it appeared to me like they stretched in order to make themselves appear taller. Somewhat hesitantly this wall of primates moved toward the mother raccoon who at first ignored them. At some point the monkeys crossed an invisible line, and the raccoon’s behavior changed from measured disinterest to full attention. Still not alarmed, she checked to make sure that the cubs were behind her, turned to face the line of monkeys, raised up slightly on her haunches, and bared her teeth. I could almost imagine her saying to them: “You want to try it boys? Come right ahead! Who’s first?”
But none stepped forward. The whole gang of monkeys turned tail and ran for the fig tree, colliding at the base, scuffling for position and ascending to the crown. Once safe from the angry mother raccoon they seemed to lose interest in her, like a person trying to forget an embarrassing incident. The monkeys returned to their vagrant behavior. Fat mama continued about her business as if nothing had happened.
Neither I nor any of the Hacienda Barú guides or park guards have witnessed another incident similar to this one. It is a clear example of the incredible variability in the behavior of monkeys and their ability to plan out their actions. Almost certainly, their motive in confronting the raccoons was the remote possibility that they could grab one of the cubs, kill it and eat it.
The young monkeys described in this occurrence were white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus,) the most intelligent of the four species of monkeys found within the Path of the Tapir Biological Corridor and throughout Costa Rica, and the only one that would entertain the idea of abducting an infant raccoon. Although all four species are found in the corridor, only capuchins are common in all parts of it. Mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata), the second most common species, are more numerous in the south. Scattered troops of Central American spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) populate different parts of the corridor and red-backed squirrel monkeys (Saimiri oerstedii) are almost never seen. Nevertheless, the influx of ecotourism into the region has stimulated the regeneration of secondary forest and the creation of the Path of the Tapir Biological Corridor, and this is having a notably positive effect on both monkey populations and species distribution.
One day in 1997 a lone, male, spider monkey was sighted in a secondary forest near the village of Hatillo. The next day he was observed four kilometers away in the lowland secondary forest of Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge. By the following day he had traveled another three kilometers where he was observed crossing the road by way of some overhanging branches and moving up into the highland, primary forests of the refuge, the preferred habitat of spider monkeys. This lone male, the first of his kind to be observed at Hacienda Barú in nearly sixty years, was thereafter sighted from time to time deep in the primary forests of the reserve. Prior to 1947, spider, howler and capuchin monkeys were all common at Hacienda Barú and throughout the region. In that year an epidemic of yellow fever killed off all of the howlers and spiders over a large area. Only the white-faced capuchins survived the plague. None of the original settlers in this region can recall having seen red-backed squirrel monkeys, so they were probably never here.
About six months after the arrival of the lone male spider monkey a single female appeared. For six months they were not seen together. The female traveled with a troop of capuchins and the male was solitary. One of our guests, a British bird watcher, speculated jokingly that perhaps they needed to be properly introduced. But eventually Cupid’s arrows struck them both. They met, became inseparable companions, and now, eight years later, the family has grown to five. At least the oldest of the three offspring is now reproductively mature, and this brings up a concern about inbreeding. Worried about the need for new blood, I contacted the head biologist for the environmental ministry and told him that Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge would be willing to accept wild spider monkeys if he knew of any that needed to be relocated. As it turned out, this petition was not necessary. A few days later three more monkeys showed up and joined the original troop bringing the total to eight. Their arrival temporarily alleviates the worry about inbreeding. As did the first ones, the newcomers apparently migrated across the biological corridor from a place called Dos Bocas and hopefully more will follow.
At least one more did follow, but not a spider monkey. Two days after the sighting of eight spider monkeys in one troop, a male, red-backed squirrel monkey appeared on Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge, the first to be sighted here. It was feeding in a strangler fig tree with a group of capuchins and appeared healthy. A few years back a small group of squirrel monkeys migrated from the south to Rancho La Merced National Wildlife Refuge, near Uvita, but this lone male is the first sighting on this side of the Barú River.
The second most dominant male of a troop of squirrel monkeys will occasionally oust the top male, who thereafter becomes a social outcast and leads a life of solitude. This may very well be the case with Hacienda Barú’s lone male. Nevertheless, there is a great deal of reason to be optimistic. Though this male may never found a troop of squirrel monkeys on Hacienda Barú, he had to get here over the Path of the Tapir Biological Corridor, and if he made it, and three new spider monkeys made it, all in the same week, we know that the corridor is functioning. We also know that there is a strong possibility that more monkeys may migrate into this region. Perhaps the howlers will be next. Ecological tourism generates more employment and brings more cash flow into this region than any other economic activity. Having all four monkey species here will be a big attraction for the travelers interested in tropical ecology.
What can you do to help insure that the monkeys keep migrating to the area around Dominical? For those who live here the main thing is to protect and enhance the wildlife corridors. If you wish to build something be careful not to interrupt a corridor where animals cross between isolated sections of forest. Before you move any earth, think about how it will affect the migration of wildlife. Working together we can protect and enhance the natural beauty that makes the Dominical area so attractive to us all.
If you are visiting Costa Rica, you can help a lot by simply patronizing businesses that practice responsible ecological tourism and by visiting national parks and wildlife refuges. Your vacation dollars are a big incentive for local people to protect the rich tropical environment and create wildlife corridors.
Tel. (in C. R.): (506) 787-0003
Fax (in C. R.): (506) 787-0057
Email: info@haciendabaru.com
