Monkeys Resume
Safe Travel in
Manuel Antonio,
Costa Rica
After
Byblos Resort &
Casino in
conjunction with
Kids Saving the
Rainforest has
donated money
and supplies to
replace some of
the 30 man made
monkey bridges
located around
Manuel Antonio
National Park
area enabling
the continued
safe transit of
the endangered
Titi (squirrel)
monkeys.
Kids Saving The
Rainforest, a
not for profit
Costa Rican
organization,
has been working
with the Monkey
Bridge Program
for the last 10
years in and
around the
Manuel Antonio
area.
“Giving the
monkeys safe
passage over
busy roads and
populated areas
by strategically
placing rope
“bridges” is an
integral part of
our work.” says
Jennifer Rice,
representative
of Kids Saving
the Rainforest.
KSTR was
saddened to
report that over
30 monkey
bridges were
destroyed from
the freak
tropical storm
that devastated
much of the
natural
vegetation last
June 1st.
“Not only have
over 1/4 of the
bridges been
destroyed, but
thousands of
trees in the
rainforest have
come down or
broken, making
it extremely
difficult for
the monkeys to
travel the
canopy in search
of food and
shelter. Some
have been
electrocuted
trying to find
new routes
because they now
have to pass
through live
wires and
transformers. It
is crucial to
get the bridges
up again.”,
added Ms. Rice.
To ensure the
survival of the
critically
species, bridges
have to be
replaced, new
locations
investigated,
and the cost to
repair and
replace the
bridges will be
over $2000. With
little or no
funds available,
local hotel
Byblos Resort &
Casino, has
generously come
forward to
donate much of
the needed funds
and materials to
make this
happen. The
bridges have
been a huge part
of the success
of Titi Monkeys’
population
increase and
without them
there will be
more
electrocutions
and deaths.
“This is not
just a feel good
donation; these
monkeys are one
of the main
attractions for
tourism in our
area. Local
Manuel Antonio
hotels and
tourism
operations that
depend on
National and
International
visitors cannot
afford to ignore
this calamity.
It’s a win win
donation as far
as we are
concerned.” says
Kimberly Barron,
Director of
Marketing for
Hotel Byblos
Resort & Casino.
This is just one
step in the
overall monkey
recovery plan
for the Manuel
Antonio, Costa
Rica area, and
with corporate
and social
responsibility
programs of
tourism
operations like
www.bybloshotelcostarica.com,
not only will
the monkeys
benefit, but the
local tourist
economy as well. |
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