Vernon is a male Vervet Monkey who came to live at the Primate Rescue Center in 2004. We estimate his birth year to be 1999. Vernon lived for years in the home of an animal hoarder in New York. He was housed in a small dog crate that was rarely cleaned. At the time he was confiscated, authorities found seven other primates living in the house, all in the same conditions as Vernon.
Because of his traumatic past, Vernon is very nervous around other monkeys and humans. Although he is currently housed alone, Vernon is still able to see and interact with the monkeys around him; however, he prefers to sit and groom by himself. He enjoys playing with his enrichment, whether it be scraping peanut butter out of a Kong toy or tossing and chasing plastic balls around his enclosure. Vernon loves to eat almost anything we serve him, but he is especially fond of corn, bananas, and peanuts.
Happy World Chimpanzee Day!
Today is World Chimpanzee Day – a day to celebrate all chimpanzees, wild and captive. We want to spend today highlighting and honoring the nine chimpanzees who call the PRC home! Each chimp is a unique individual with their own likes, dislikes and interests, and we...
Supermarkets snub coconut goods picked by monkeys
A number of supermarkets have removed some coconut water and oil from their shelves after it emerged the products were made with fruit picked by monkeys.
Vernon’s Path Toward Recovery
Over the past thirty years, the Primate Rescue Center has rescued monkeys from a diverse array of pet situations and laboratories, with individuals exposed to a variety of living conditions and levels of care. What all of these monkeys have in common is the trauma...
What’s that Smell?
When visiting the capuchin enclosure at the PRC, one of the first things you will notice is a large, beefy monkey named Louie! Louie is a former pet from Virginia who arrived at the PRC in 2004 at the age of 2. He is the largest monkey in the group of five, and he...
CHIMPS, HUMANS, AND MONKEYS: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
It’s finally time to set the record straight: As much as we all love monkeys, Dr. Goodall’s studies and the work of the Jane Goodall Institute have primarily focused on chimpanzees, not monkeys. Now, I know your next question is probably, “But aren’t chimps the same thing as monkeys?” and the answer is, they are not! So what’s the difference and why does it matter?
Human Speech Evolved From Lip-Smacking in Chimps, Study Suggests
In a new study, UK researchers established that "lip-smacking," a typical behavior seen in chimps, happens in the same timing range as human mouths when they speak.
Watch an example of chimpanzee ‘culture,’ as one fishes for termites
When Jane Goodall first witnessed chimpanzees using sticks to “fish” for termites, she toppled the notion that only humans use tools. Now, a new study has shown groups of chimps fish using their own cultural techniques, which they pass down to successive generations, New Scientist reports.
Primatologists work to keep great apes safe from coronavirus
Human respiratory viruses are already the leading cause of death in chimp communities at Kibale and at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania, where Jane Goodall worked, according to a study by Goldberg and colleagues. Now, as COVID-19 spreads closer to endangered great apes in Africa and Asia, researchers and veterinarians are gearing up to protect the apes as well as local people.
What Orangutans Taught Me About Motherhood
After observing great apes in Borneo, an anthropologist reflects on being raised by a single mother—and on how women learn to be good moms.
A Sweet Message from Our Volunteer Joseph
During this pandemic, safety guidelines have been implemented at the Primate Rescue Center to restrict attendance to essential staff only. This is the safest thing possible, and I completely respect the decision made by everyone there, as I know it was surely a...
