Lucinda’s Story
Lucinda arrived at Ambue Ari in November 2013, when she was approximately 12-18 months old.
Prior to that, Lucinda was owned by a family in Guarayos who bought her from a farmer. The farmer had shot Lucinda’s mother illegally and then stole the cubs with the intention of selling them. The family that bought Lucinda knew that there was a strong chance she may become aggressive and unmanageable as she grew older. Like so many animals in our care, the family purchased Lucinda anyway, knowing that they would probably give her away after a short amount of time. Actions like this contribute to the black market trade of animals in Bolivia. The family consisted of three daughters of varying ages who treated Lucinda like a toy – they would throw her about and be very rough with her. It was with these children that Lucinda started to bite and become aggressive. The household also had a number of domestic animals and Lucinda reportedly started attacking them as well. By the time they gave her up, even strangers could not enter the house as Lucinda would become aggressive with them.
Fortunately, with time Luci started trusting her volunteers and nowadays she is one of the most lovable characters from Ambue. She is always ready to enjoy a walk in the jungle and climb trees to get a better view.
Photos by Ella Wood.
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