AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Monkey Killed

Barbara K, I agree with skippy. I hate needles and couldn't stand injections through the stomach. I would not debunk alternative medicine or give you crap!

I'm confused and concerned. Was the monkey tested for rabies? Taking rabies injections is a pretty radical procedure especially if it is not necessary.

Your not confused and your concern is appropriate. Rabies injections are painful, expensive and should be reserved for cases where rabies is highly suspected. If highly suspected the animal's brain is examined for evidence of rabies if available.

Wild animals which carry a higher risk of rabbies include raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, and other wild carnivores.

Wild rodents such as squirrels, rats, mice and rabbits usually are not carriers with the exception of ground hogs.

A monkey could be a carrier but is low risk.

Treatment in this case was probably not needed but the person obviously did not want to take any chances and was willing to under go vaccination.

Saturday began with a Primate Health Forum. A vet panel comprised of Three outstanding primate vets lead the session, talking about prevention, surgical procedures, and other critical health information for non-human primates. The focus was precautionary vaccines and blood testing, and it was agreed that a number of vaccines were acceptable to give to non-human primates. Tetanus, MMR, Polio, TB testing, and Rabies (even though primates are not a rabies risk) were recommended.

Hi All;

I'm the "Monkey Lady" as my friends call me now. I'm Laura. I have lived here for quite some time. As Simon has stated, yes I did sustain numerous injuries but luckily, with my doctor's help, I am healing very quickly.

I wanted to chime in on this subject. I was upset that the monkey was killed and even more upset that they didn't do any testing on it. Yes I am under going Rabies shots for my safety but what if there was something else? HIV? Hepititous (sp?)? etc... I am also very disappointed in how my case was handled by the "Health Inspector" who hasn't even followed up on this. Also other "involved" authorities that just didn't do ANYTHING that is their RESPONSIBILITY. I'm lucky because I have a doctor that made sure that I wasn't going to die from this mishapp.

I also agree that wildlife should stay "wild lives". Caging of wild animals is like putting yourself in prison for the rest of your life and maybe you get a visitor every now and than but you can't touch them. You don't feel connected. You basically are mentally and emotionally DEAD. Do you think thats fair for the animal? Hell, it didn't break any laws when it was born in the wild. Why imprison them?

Being an newby on this message board stuff, I just finished reading ALL the pages on this subject.

First of all, thank you EVERYONE for your concerns and best wishes.

I can say that with new medicines, I am lucky that I didn't have to get the shots in the stomach. I received them in the arms and they have not been very painful. A little nauseating right after the shot and usually the day after. Its a series of 7 shots and the first two weeks you get one every two days. Then they get further appart. I got one this morning and another on Saturday. My last one is on the 16th.

It was advised to me, and my doctor, by the health inspector (the one and ONLY time I spoke to him) to get the shots because the monkey had been loose for several days and not knowing if it had been in contact with the raccoons or not. It is unlikely that the monkey had rabies or was a carrier but I didn't want to take the chance and neither did my doctor.

Laura, I'm glad you're doing OK, and healing up. That must have been very frightening. Thank you for posting and telling us about your ordeal. Best wishes for a full recovery.

Thanks Skippy.

Wanna know whats funny????

I'm leaving sunday for a week in the jungles to photo monkeys (and of course all the other wildlife). Go figure?? LOL

Always up beat and moving.....thats my motto!!!

See ya
Laura

Laura, It must have been the moon! I am an animal control officer in the states and there were a lot of attacks this week. I have never been bitten by an animal, but I was attacked on the 29th by a dog. Rabies is always a concern here in Kansas City, though we have very few cases per year. There are however, many types of bacteria in animal saliva that can be equally as evil.

I'm glad you have a doctor you trust. Peace of mind is often a great healer!

so glad you are doing better Laura, i spent some quality time in a huge cage with pancho once. barely got out. it was fine as long as i stayed put. he played with me, really enjoyed me as his toy. but if i tried to leave, he got very upset and would go ape. bit my face a couple small spots.

so i basically had to sit tight and be his boy toy for a couple hours til i saw a chance to make a run for it. his weight shifted just so to one side of me and i shot out of there as he fell off me. spanish was very relieved. he was taking care of the monkey and wasn't sure i was gonna get out in one piece. patience is so key when in a tricky situation with wild beasties. work on their schedule. don't get in a hurry trying to get away.

very sad he was killed. doesn't really seem it was necessary.

Was it Pancho? I thought it was, but I'm told Pancho is at a location very near where his first owner used to live,in the town center, in a cage in a neighbor's yard.