Munay and Vida

These two baby spider monkeys were rescued in Ixiamas after hunters tragically killed a group of 24 primates and burned them, most likely for the illegal bushmeat trade. The babies, still clinging to their mothers when the fire occurred, suffered severe injuries and were brought to CIWY’s Jacj Cuisi Sanctuary for treatment. Despite their critical condition, both showed incredible strength and fully recovered from their burns. The younger one is named Vida (“Life” in Spanish), and the older one, Munay, means “eternal, unconditional love” in Quechua. Since they are still very young, they need various vitamins, supplements, and formula milk to help develop their immune system. Each can of formula lasts a month per monkey and costs $20, while the vitamins range from $10 to $50 per bottle.

Although hunting for bushmeat is illegal, it is still widely commercialized in communities, especially in tourist areas like Rurrenabaque, without consequences.