Where is Banana Sam?

Hi Everybody!

I hope the holidays were great for everyone! And I am sincerely sorry for my lack of communication, but I'm trying to get several projects off the ground.

But I came across this story today and I thought you should know about it. It's about a monkey named Banana Sam - he is from San Francisco and he is missing. Now we don't know if he escaped on his own  from his home at the zoo (which I am fine with) or that he was monkey-napped! (which I am not fine with).

He might have a twitter (http://twitter.com/SF_BananaSam) but we are not sure if it is really him or perhaps his monkey-nappers trying to make it seem like he is okay.

So Banana Sam if you are okay and on your own - let me know - or else the search will continue!

Happy New Year Everyone!

MoJo

For more on this story go to :  http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/12/monkey-banana-sam-snatched-from-san-francisco-zoo/

New Monkey Found!

(Picture of a Snub-nosed monkey from Reuters)

I'm not sure what to make of this guy. He looks like he got punched in the face and is now missing a nose, but on the other hand his hair is pretty trendy and he looks like he is cleaning his teeth (so he has good hygiene).

He was discovered in a remote forested region of northern Myanmar (that's in Southeast Asia) and now that area is in danger due to logging and a Chinese dam project. They estimate that there are between 260 and 330 of the monkeys living in the area and that they are now critically endangered.

Not sure what we can do but it looks like the Chinese dam project has the chance to harm them the most.

For more on this Story: Click Here

Stay Cool!

(Picture via REUTERS/Stringer)

Well it was a hot one today on the East Coast of the United States but let's take a tip from this macaque monkey from Zhengzhou in the Henan province of China and lick some ice lollys! Its a good way to keep cool.

Techno-Best Friends!

As a tech-savvy monkey I know how important technology can be for enabling us monkeys! (and people and dogs too!) Check out this video of two best friends (a monkey and dog) where technology helps their friendship!

Shia LaBeouf Blames Monkeys!

Everyone knows what a Big Fan I am of Indiana Jones and all of his Adventures. His movies his attractions at the Disney Parks and his hats. Well I liked the last Indiana Jones movie and I especially liked the fact that monkeys were in it.

But Shia LaBeouf (who played Indy's son (I think I would have done a better job) says that there were problems with the movie and he blames lots of people and the monkeys! Sir -I see that you also blame people in the Transformers movies as well (a movie I had just seen) but there were no monkeys to blame. So maybe the problem is you Sir and not the monkeys!

Good Day!

For More: http://movies.yahoo.com/news/usmovies.accesshollywood.com/shia-labeouf-dropped-ball-indiana-jones-sequel

I guess I will have to add Shia to my "watch list"

UPDATE! - Monkey on the lam!

If you saw my last post about the Monkey on Lam in Tampa Bay - Here is an UPDATE!

Well this guy is still running around avoiding being captured. I will say it again, I don't know what the big deal is just because he is not native to Florida, as long as he is not committing a crime he should be able to stay there. Its full of tourists! If you are listening Mystery Monkey maybe you should try Orlando and get a pair of sunglasses and they won't bother you!

They didn't bother me when I was there!

Anyway - he has gotten so popular he even has his own Facebook, Twitter, and Wikipedia page, so you can check them out and follow him like did! There are even T-Shirts for sale of him (to support his freedom (and the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary Foundation)) and some people call him the "Rambo of Primates"

For on this story you can go http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/AmazingAnimals/mystery-monkey-remains-large/story?id=10200150 and http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2010/0324/Mystery-monkey-of-Tampa-Bay-becomes-a-Facebook-phenomenon

I feel like I missed the boat and haven't done enough to help this guy!

BREAKING NEWS- Monkey on the lam

It seems that there is a monkey on the loose in the St. Petersburg area of Florida. He has been hit twice by tranquilizer darts but he is still on the loose (he got away by ducking behind a drug store and a church). He is a rhesus macaque monkey and basically the state of Florida wants him out of there because he "is not native to Florida". That's ridiculous! Many monkeys (including myself) have come from different parts of the world. Some monkeys have even been brought to this country against their will (including me! Though I decided to stay).

He was seen in St. Petersburg yesterday. Last year the search was in the Tampa Bay area after originally being spotted Hudson. (He also was sighted several times in Hillsborough County and northern Pinellas County)

Vernon Yates (who has been tracking him since last year) says the monkey is smart, even stopping to check traffic before crossing a busy street. Though he is not a threat to humans, they still want to capture him, which I am against. I have been to Florida and I always thought they were nice to monkeys (maybe that's because I was just visiting).

GO LITTLE GUY - GO!!

If you see this Monkey give him a banana and be nice to him! And contact Me!

For More Go Here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35698558/

Half of the World's primates are in Danger!

Or Endangered (sorry I had to get your attention)

(A Yellow-Tailed woolly monkey from Peru)

According to a recent report by a major conservation group almost half the world's primate population faces extinction (that includes monkeys!).

Of the worlds 634 primates species - 48% are threatened by extinction. Mainly due to deforestation, illegal trade of these animals, and commercial bush meat hunting. 

The main species who seem to be the most threatened include apes, lemurs and monkeys!

For more on this story (and for more pictures) Go Here: http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/science/02/17/endangered.species/index.html?hpt=C2

Best Super Bowl Commercial - EVER!

Though to be honest - I haven't seen many Super Bowls - or Super Bowl Commercials - but I love this one!

Click this link to watch it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJqs3D2vv4I

Animal Warriors - FIGHT BACK

Happy Super Bowl Sunday Everybody!

Watching these athletes reminded me of a story in December about monkeys trained in the art of Taekwodo who actually attacked their Sensei (or master-pictured above).

A bystander said "I saw one punch him in the eye... It was better than a Bruce Lee film". The Sensei (Mr. Wung) said he was very angry and made his students kneel on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs.

I don't know how I feel about their hands being tied - but who am I to argue with their Sensei? If they don't like it they should stop their karate lessons.

I take Karate lessons - I would never turn against my Karate Master Roy (unless he deserved it - but I wouldn't keep taking lessons from him). Keep this in mind Humans! Just because we are small - we monkeys are great Animal Warriors!

For more on this story - Click Here

PS: I don't know much about both teams but, I have been to New Orleans, and I loved it. If anyone from Indianapolis is reading, and wants to send me to Indianapolis so I can make a fair and unbiased comparison, you know where to reach me. In the meantime, GO SAINTS!!!

The Password Is...

Hi Everybody! I know how much everyone loves us monkeys but you can't use "monkey" as a password. Its just to darn simple for those hackers to break into your account.

It was only listed as number 14 on the list of Popular passwords - but that's good. If you need to remember your love of monkeys - please just print out a picture of yours-truly rather than using "monkey" as your password.

For more on this simple password story Click Here!

Thanks to Little D for showing me this story as well as yesterdays story.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

(Picture from AP Photo/Pavel Rahman via Yahoo!)

I don't know about where you guys have been lately but where I've been (the North East United States) it's been cold outside! And its not going to get any warmer with another large Arctic blast passing through the country.

Well if you are not sure how to stay warm take a tip from these monkeys! During a cold and foggy morning at the Dhaka Zoo in Dhaka, Bangladesh these monkeys cuddled together to stay warm.

Because of the cold wave in the area there have been 6 cold related deaths and even an outbreak of cold related diseases. That's horrible news - so stick together guys! We monkeys are excellent cuddlers ; )

So you heard it right here folks - If you are Cold: START CUDDLING!

Orange Monkey!

Kind of Funky!

Hi Everyone! This is Tantan and these are his debut pictures! He is a Francois' Leaf Monkey and was born last month near Tokyo, Japan in Yokohama. We don't know much about it him (since he is just a baby - but check out his cool orange monkey fur!

Here he is relaxing with his parents at the zoological gardens Zoorasia in Yokohama near Tokyo, Japan.

(Pictures via AP via Yahoo!)

Fall into the GAP

No not that GAP - but the Great Ape Protection project!

GAP's purpose is to guarantee the basic rights to life, freedom and non-torture of the non-human great apes – Chimpanzees, Gorillas, Orangutans and Bonobos, the closest relatives in the animal kingdom to humans.

We have covered lots of stories here at Piece of MoJo in which non-human primates have been abused by humans, and its good to see an organization such as GAP is out there fighting for the rights of non-human primates, and at the same time protecting them.

Rights to live along with freedom is very important to me - and my fellow monkeys; just as I'm sure its important to you! Some stories have come out in the past year that would hurt non-human primates rights- so you can see why an organization like this is so important.

If you would like more information on GAP - check out their website: http://www.greatapeproject.org

Speeder Wears Monkey Mask!

(Picture via ABC 15)

Hi Everybody!

There is a masked man in Phoenix (I KNOW!), Arizona who is pretending to be a monkey by wearing a mask, while he is driving. He is breaking the law there by going over the speed limit. But he wears a monkey mask so he can try to pin his crimes on an innocent monkey.

Nice try Mister, but that mask didn't fool me!

Cameras in Phoenix take pictures of the cars and drivers that violate the law. So he has been trying to disguise himself as a monkey so that he could not be identified. The man has done this over 3 dozen times collecting about 37 tickets and totaling over $6,700.00 in fines.

Sometimes he disguises himself as a giraffe, gazelle -not always a monkey (though its the most common disguise that he uses).

Some people agree with his tactics (of wearing a mask) because they are against the cameras. Others think that he is driving very unsafely.

I am just upset that he is trying to frame an innocent monkey! The police suspect Dave VonTesmar as the culprit, because they have spotted him putting on masks at homes - but he denies the allegation (and talks about it on his Facebook).

For more on this Story you can go here: http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story/Man-Wearing-Monkey-Mask-Gets-37-Tickets/1N7IUgL9Ak29fDH4wG6bDw.cspx?rss=702

And here: http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoenixmetro/central/story/Man-accused-of-wearing-monkey-mask-while-speeding/_wVFUaFf5EGEAl9XwAe0GQ.cspx?rss=1977

-MoJo

Yahoo Answers: What's easier, training a guy to act like a gentleman or training a monkey?

Click on the Image above to make it bigger.

I just think this is a silly question in my monkey opinion - but if you guys know the answer you can answer it by going here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090830194133AATubng

Thumbs UP! - ZooTV

(Live video streams from the Great Plains Zoo to Sanford Children's Hospital (Squirrel Monkeys!). Fun animal facts scroll across the screen. - Picture via USA TODAY )

Hi Everybody, its me - MoJo

I wanted to give a big Thumbs UP! to the Great Plains Zoo in South Dakota! Why? Because the Great Plains Zoo started ZooTV! ZooTV was started in March, using 14 weatherproof cameras to video tape live animals at the zoo and then beam the live feed to sick children at hospitals - whether its during hospital stays (giving them something to do and break up their stay/day) or to comfort them while going through medical procedures.

"ZooTV is one of a growing number of partnerships between hospitals and zoos to help comfort children who are, in many cases, waging life-and-death battles against cancer and other serious illnesses.

Video of tigers, monkeys, giraffes and some underwater creatures are being beamed into patient rooms in cities including Sioux Falls, Palo Alto, Calif., and Rochester, Minn."

This has inspired other Zoo's like the Houston Zoo in Houston, Texas who hopes to share their animals by adding cameras in their future expansion plans. At the same time hospitals are lining up to add ZooTV to their buildings as well.

There hasn't been any studies done yet - but it might be true that video of monkeys is especially cheerful to the children and may actually decrease their recovery time; we will have to wait and see. I mean look at the picture above - they chose to show the feed of some Squirrel Monkeys - they know a monkey a day keeps the doctor away.

For more on this Story: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-09-07-zootv_N.htm

And the Great Plains Zoo: http://www.gpzoo.org

Keep Smiling

- MoJo

Helper Monkeys!

This is a topic that has been near and dear to my heart for a long time. Everyone knows that I am a helper monkey - but there is an organization called Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers for the Disabled

Helping Hands is a national non-profit organization that offers independence and hope to individuals with severe disabilities by training helper monkeys and placing them with such individuals. For over 30 years this organization has been doing great work by both giving jobs to monkeys and helping out humans who really need the help!

Right now they concentrate on training and placing monkeys, but in the next coming years they hope to extend their programs to developing permanent homes for retired monkeys - providing them the best care and medical support. This is a full program for working monkeys - from training, to placement, and finally to retirement.

As a helper monkey I know how important it is to help people, and to get proper training for working with humans. Recently I have been observing them with a family that doesn't need my help as much as others, but they have enabled me to learn more about humans, and how to spread my message to the rest of the world!

This is a cause very near and dear to my heart - so if you have some spare monies around, please do all that you can!

Website: http://www.monkeyhelpers.org/

For ways to support the organization and helper monkeys by multiple means (donations, time, their store, etc.) : http://www.monkeyhelpers.org/supportus/

They are even having a special event celebrating their 30th Anniversary - by buying a ticket to the event you can support them as well - http://www.monkeyhelpers.org/minisite/

Recently there have been many stories about Helping Hands:

One about the first veteran of Iraq or Afghanistan wars to receive a monkey from Helping Hands (but the group hopes he will not be the last)http://www.militarytimes.com/offduty/health/offduty_monkeyhelpers_072809/

A news story about Helping Hands (from Germany): http://www.rtl.de/rtlaktuell/rtl_aktuell_videoplayer.php?article=29234&p

And another news story from a FOX61 Connecticut. This one is excellent since they want to promote awareness of Helper Monkeys to individuals in Connecticut that may need it and they also try to let everyone know the difference between monkeys and chimps -to help alleviate any fears since the Travis incident that happened in Connecticut:

So any help that you could provide to my fellow Helper Monkeys would be appreciated!

Thanks!

-MoJo

Welcome Lara and Lucy!

Hello Lara and Lucy!

Lara and Lucy (pictured above) are two emperor tamarin monkey twin who were born in early July. The sad news is that their mother died from cancer on July 30th just three weeks after they were born. This made Lara and Lucy orphans - so sad. But the Denver Zoo stepped in and decided they would take them in and take care of them.

I'm sorry Lara and Lucy that your mother died. But there are monkeys out there (like me) that will look after you.

Let me know if there is anything I can do for you! (Denver Zoo - you can let me know too)

-MoJo

(Looking Good!)

Stress - So thats Why I have a belly!

I have a little bit of a belly. Most of you already know this from seeing pictures of me.

But I am always on the look out for ways to reduce it. I try dieting and working out - along with my already active lifestyle! But it doesn't go away. Some days are better than others, but wish I could be more fit. (Darn you Chocolate Bananas! why do you tempt me so). Anyway a new study came out that links stress to fat- specifically fat around the stomach and specifically in monkeys. Now I am not looking for excuses, but if its true then maybe I have to take a look at my life and get rid of any stress.

(I'm looking at you Fred.)

Click Here to go to this study in Times Magazine.

- MoJo