‘Miracle monkey’ chit-chats again after treatment
The two-year-old monkey stopped eating, had pale skin between the eyes, curved and abnormally long nails, suffered weight loss and had zero mobility.
A marmoset monkey brought to the World Primate Centre in Esther Park is making great strides after being diagnosed with Rickets.
Wayne Macleod of the centre said the monkey’s owner called in tears and said her monkey stopped walking.
“I told her it could be many things but it was difficult to tell. She said she was told to put it down but this monkey was still young and she felt she could not just put it down without trying her best to help,” Wayne said.
“She was given the monkey as a present and it is like her child. She said she was so worried about the killer virus Herpes. I understood completely and asked if she could try to bring the monkey to me to see what could be done.”
When they arrived it was clear it was Rickets, Wayne said. The two-year-old monkey stopped eating, had pale skin between the eyes, curved and abnormally long nails, suffered weight loss and had zero mobility.
She weighed 196g, was paralysed with a bent tail, opaque teeth, dry hair and was moaning a lot. She now weighs 256g.
“After a month of treating her with calcium powder, direct sunlight and baby Panado syrup and constantly massaging her spinal column, she started gaining weight. She is walking, eating normally and even jumping again.
“She has also become more herself in that she makes all the chit-chat vocalisations she should and is climbing and jumping a lot more. This shows she is so much better and the calcium level in her bone density is fantastic. Her teeth are whiter too.
“There are so many people who don’t know how much time, dietary requirements and basic needs these special little intelligent creatures need. It’s my job to help them and to educate the public.
“She really is a miracle monkey as I have not seen such a severe case of complete paralysis like this one for years. She is still distorted, which we won’t get right because she has finished her growing stage.
“Marmoset monkeys are supposed to complete their growth at about twelve to fifteen months. So the kinks in her tail will not come right, nor will the bent spine. However, she can now eat better and certainly move better.
“One big thing people misunderstand is that it is in these monkeys’ best interest to live outdoors in a lovely big cage with goodies and toys to play with.
“As a sanctuary we are always in need of cooler boxes as the monkeys use these to sleep in. It is cool in summer and warm in winter,” Wayne added.
They are also in constant need of polar fleece material, foods such as eggs, chicken, tinned meats, polony, yogurt, baby milk powders, frozen mixed veg or tinned veg, pastas, rice, dry cereals, apples, grapes, paw-paw, pears, bananas and Purity baby food.
If anyone would like to help, call Wayne on 084 597 4044.
