ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Curiosity Stream The Misfit Monkeys | Rescued Chimpanzees Of The Congo
Have you ever heard about monkeys that are a bit like a family? Well, let me tell you about some special monkeys called the “Misfit Monkeys.” These monkeys come from different species, but they love spending time together, just like a big, happy family. They are playful and funny, much like cheeky children having fun!
One of the most playful monkeys in the group is Luisa. You can spot him easily because he has a white stripe above his top lip. When Luisa first came to the sanctuary, a kind person named Maria took care of him. She felt like his mom, but taking care of a monkey can be quite a challenge!
Luisa and his monkey friends are excited to go back to the forest, but they need to be healthy first. Before they can return to the wild, they have to go through a health check. This is to make sure they don’t have any sicknesses that could spread in the forest.
During the health check, Luisa, who loves to play, finds it hard to stay still. But eventually, he calms down enough for the doctors to check him. They take blood samples, x-rays, and even look at his teeth to make sure everything is okay.
After a few days, Luisa and his friends get the green light to head to a nearby forest. But before they can roam free, they need to get used to their new home. This is called a “soft release.”
In the forest, they stay in a small enclosure for about ten days. This helps them get familiar with their surroundings. Two caregivers stay with them all the time, giving them yummy wild fruits and making sure they are happy and not stressed.
It’s amazing to see Luisa and his friends exploring their new forest home. They are curious and excited, looking around and getting used to the sights and sounds of the forest. This careful transition is important to help them succeed when they are finally free to live in the wild.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that these playful monkeys are getting a chance to live happily in the forest again? It’s a big adventure for them, and with a little help, they are ready to enjoy their new life!
Monkey Family Tree: Create a family tree for the Misfit Monkeys. Draw or use cut-out pictures of different monkey species and arrange them on a large sheet of paper. Label each monkey with a name and a fun fact about them. Discuss how, like a family, each monkey has its own unique traits but they all belong together.
Health Check Role Play: Set up a pretend health check station. Use toy medical kits to perform “health checks” on stuffed animals or dolls. Discuss why health checks are important for Luisa and his friends before they return to the wild. Encourage children to think about how they feel when they visit the doctor and how it helps them stay healthy.
Forest Adventure Observation: Go on a nature walk in a nearby park or garden. Ask the children to observe and list the different sounds, sights, and smells they encounter. Relate this to Luisa’s experience of exploring the forest. Discuss how being in a new environment can be exciting and what they can learn from it.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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[Music]
The aim is for any animal that’s suitable to go back to the wild. Next up are the misfit monkeys. [Music]
These monkeys are a variety of species, but despite their differences, they enjoy hanging out together. They are like a family. They are very funny and playful, resembling mischievous children. They have a simpler social structure than chimpanzees, allowing them to form groups more easily and return to the wild more quickly.
The most mischievous of the group is Luisa, best identified by the white stripe above his top lip. Maria spent a week with him when he first arrived at the sanctuary. She felt like a mother to him, but it’s not easy to have a monkey in the crates.
It looks like Luisa is eager to get back to the forest, but he’s not quite ready yet. First, all the monkeys must have a health check to ensure they’re fit for release. It’s important to make sure they are healthy to prevent any infections in the wild.
Health checks are serious, but playful Luisa just wants to have fun, making it difficult for Maria to sedate him. [Music] Eventually, the sedation takes effect, and he’s ready for the clinic for blood samples, x-rays, dental checkups, and swab tests.
Emmeline Chanov collects samples for analysis, focusing on parasites, viruses, and bacteria that could cause diseases in animals. [Music]
After a tough day, the little monkeys are one step closer to returning to the wild. Five days later, Luisa and his gang have been given the all-clear and are on their way to a nearby forest.
All these monkeys are going to join the forest, which is an exciting moment. Like chimpanzees, monkeys are rarely sent straight back to the wild. They must first spend some time adjusting to their new surroundings, known as a soft release.
They are placed in a small enclosure in the forest to help them get used to the area before the gates are opened to let them go. It’s wonderful to see them observing their new environment.
The monkeys seem very excited to be in their new forest enclosure, where they’ll spend the next ten days. Two caregivers will stay with Luisa and his gang around the clock to feed them wild fruits from the forest and monitor their behavior for any signs of stress.
It’s a slow transition, but it’s important for their success in the open forest after release.
[Music]
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