Working for primate welfare and conservation
“After my plane trip to Hanoi, I had to wait for hours for the bus that would take me to my destination. My first trip on my own, the only non-local there and I’m almost 1.90m, I didn’t go unnoticed…” Martí Masip tells me among laughter after his 6 month practical placement as part of his Masters degree in Primatology. He enthusiastically transmits his experience and tells me that he is very much looking forward to studying more primate groups.
The change of some members between our chimps’ groups at MONA is going great! And we are pretty sure to say these changes will last in time. So the time has come to change the names for the groups! The Males group is no longer only-male, and the Family also deserves a brand new name.
The candidates for names for the new groups, are names of African trees, somehow related to the chimps living in the wild. Since you are such an important part of their well-being, we’d like to invite you to take part of this major decision, that’s why we’ve made a survey.
When we first met Lush, Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, almost nobody talked about palm oil. Except them, of course. And we clearly remember how we felt in love with their products: funny, vegetarian, free of animal testing and ethical. But what really stole our hearts was the fact that they were boycotting against the farming and use of this oil for its direct effects on orangutans extinction and habitats loss in Indonesia.
This April has started in Spain with the happiest of the news: many supermarkets will ban the use of palm oil in their products. And also this April, it is the 10th anniversary of Lush’s most charitable and, of course, palm oil free product: the Charity Pot cream. They have raised so far more than 23 millions of Euros, to fund grassroots organisations working on animal protection, human rights and environmental issues around the world.
At MONA we have a lot to thank to Charity Pot. As much, as the brand new van we acquired last year thanks to the fundings collected by all those people who bought their Charity Pot, and thanks to Lush who gave us this great opportunity.
Happy Birthday Charity Pot! Congratulations Lush, keep up with the good work. We are still as in love with you as the first day!
It is with great excitement that we are organizing the first ever Art month at Mona! This month of June, the world of art and that of primates will merge into one. Every weekend Mona will organize a different activity during which art and primatology will come together.
What are the activities?
Saturday June 4th:
The prizes of the 1st drawing and painting contest ‘PRIMATES MONA MONTANA’, organized with the help of Montana Colors, will be awarded to the winners.
Who can participate? Children 6 years old and up. Children will enter in different categories depending on their age.
Contest rules available here
Prizes: a bundle of Montana Colors products will be awarded to each winner of every age category as well as a voucher for a free educational visit of the MONA Foundation.
No participation fee
Saturday June 11th:
Naturalist drawing workshop, taught by the illustrator Blanca Martí
Who can participate? All families that register directly at the Riudellots town hall
No participation fee, however, you must sign up for the course. Call 972 477 005 to do so.
Sunday June 19th:
Mona Sketching Day, organized by the illustrator Montserrat Sanchiz
Who can participate? Anyone and everyone who loves drawing! You have to sign up to participate
Read the rules and the program
Access the page of the event directly on facebook
To sign up or get information write to: monaskd2016@gmail.com
Price? 6 euro, guided visit of the sanctuary included
Prizes: every participant will receive a voucher to come back and visit the center. The winners will receive a bundle of Mona goodies and a painting done by one of the chimpanzees here at Mona.
Sunday June 26th:
During an event organized by La Mono Magazine the works of art entered in the lottery will be given to their respective winner.
Who can participate? Each and every one that does not want to miss our unique lottery ‘la mono para la mona’ and wants to take home an original piece of art done by the different artists that are participating. More details will be published soon, keep your eyes peeled!
You cannot miss this! Sign up now for one of the activities organized in June!
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us, 972 477 618 or comunicacio@fundacionmona.org
These days in Paris is being held an incredibly important summit for our planet. During the latter our world leaders will have to agree on several points in order to take action against global warming, a topic that is vital to our cause, and biodiversity.
We hope that the 195 countries that are taking part in the meeting to replace and better the old Kyoto agreement will keep in mind the weight of their decisions and that they will act accordingly and set aside their economic interests.
We can all do our part in order to take action against global warming, our possibilities and daily actions matter.
Here at MONA we are aware of all that and that is why we have been working for years towards informing those around us with guided visits and our department MONAEduca. This way we are doing our part fighting against the injustice of our (only) planet.
We truly hope that a great agreement will be signed during the COP21.
You can already make (or make yourself) this gift!
This 2016 we want to be with you on your best moments!
This beautiful 2016 calendar helps save and give a proper life to primates who have not always had the luck on their side but finally found at MONA their home.
You can get yours, online at: http://fundacionmona.org/en/regala-solidaridad/
Or find it at our friend shops (points of sale):
We would like to thank all the collaborators that made this Calendar possible: Audax energia, Rest. Campllong Local Social, Rest. Les Oliveres, ENNA Marketing i Comunicació Creativa, Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava-Girona, Montanacolors, Lush Cosmetics, Seguritec, casa colònies Can Solà, Rest. Can Barris i B12 Rest. Bar Vegà.
And apples? And oranges? At least 180 kg!
And how do we know that? Because our friends from the # TheComminity (www.thecomminity.com) visited us last November 29th with the new MINI prototype car #MINIclubman.
They gifted us with an incredible amount of material: 180Kg of fruit, a laptop, gallons of cleaning materials, large plastic containers and various tools. What a great start to our Christmas campaign to collect material for MONA!
A big thanks to #TheComminity friends for their support, kindness and solidarity !!
We recommend you all to visit their forum to see more photos and their experience at MONA: http://www.thecomminity.com/comunidad-mini/mini-amp-mona/
photo credits: #thecomminity
This is MONA’s new van!
And it was Lush was who made it entirely possible thanks to its product “Charity Pot”.
Lush is the fresh handmade cosmetics firm that first of all, protects the environment and believes that a better world is possible.
MONA’s new van thanks to Lush
We want to say a big thank you to Lush for making this dream come true. It’s an amazing feeling to realize that we have friends as Lush, supporting us so strongly… We’re on cloud nine!
Thank you Lush, because with you everything is possible!
After a long wait, last night Cheeta, our new guest, has arrived at Fundación MONA.
Last Monday, Didi Crailsheim, one of our head keepers, traveled to Oasis Park in Fuerteventura, to meet her and discover what she likes and fears. The day after, MONA’s director Olga Feliu and our vet Josep Badia joined them in order to make Cheeta’s transition easier. That way, once in our facilities at Riudellots de la Selva (Girona), she would have someone she already knows and trusts.
Thursday morning, Cheeta flew directly to Madrid and later we drove her to Riudellots in a van. The trip went well, with no surprises. In these first days, we are lucky to have here Vicente, one of her favorite keepers, so that the change won’t be too traumatic for her. They have been friends her whole life, for he raised her when she was confiscated and moved to the Oasis Park and they had a special relationship for more than 28 years.
When Cheeta entered what would be her new indoor facility, there was no delay or second thoughts and she just passed smoothly from her transportation cage over to her new home. This morning, Cheeta happily greeted the keepers who one after another went to meet her. She was really calm and as soon as the sun started shining, we gave her access to socialization cages. She went out very quickly and again very calm and vocalizing happiness. The other chimpanzees at MONA heard her from a distance and responded to her vocalizations, which means that they now know there’s a “new girl” in the house.
When she went out for the first time a group of journalists was already waiting for her, to witness and record this special moment. After exploring her new home, Cheeta chose one of the higher hammocks so that she could see everything better. We already noticed she likes high places back in Oasis Park and tried to provide her with similar possibilities. We’re looking forward to getting to know her better and discover more about her personality.
Before she can be integrated with others of her species, Cheeta has to go through an adjustment period, but we’re sure she will be glad to join the others and enjoy the company of other chimps once again.
¡ We’ll keep you posted!
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