Puchi Beyond Words
By Robin Huffman, Safina Center Fellow
Puchi and Robin in an enrichment session. Photo: Jungle Friends
Note: Monkeys are not pets! Typically at Jungle Friends, the monkeys aren’t handled at all, but ill, special needs and elder-care monkeys are exceptions; they need to be handled for medical reasons.
If I were ready to travel, the first place I’d head is Gainesville, Florida to visit my favorite senior citizen, Puchi. We met in 2011 at his group home, Jungle Friends. Puchi is bald, missing one eye and quite a few teeth, and he drools a bit. I’m told he’s slowing down considerably. But oh, how he loves visitors! He holds their hands and tilts his head in an endearing way, listening intently. When you talk with him, he laughs and carries on earnest conversation (unintelligible to us but nevertheless utterly charming). And the old fellow expresses his delight with an enthusiastic open-mouthed play face.
Puchi eats a snack in his enclosure. Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur/NEAVS
Puchi is a capuchin monkey living at Jungle Friends primate sanctuary led by founder Kari Bagnall. He arrived on May 29, 2004. After having been found by the authorities wandering on the Eisenhower Expressway in Chicago, he was sent to a zoological organization, which ended up going bankrupt. Luckily for Puchi, he landed at Jungle Friends, where he is well loved and cared for.
Puchi. Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur/NEAVS
He’s my favorite monkey in the world, but not only MY favorite. Here are just a few other fans:
From Michael Blumenthal, poet, novelist, essayist, memoirist, translator:
“We spent DAYS with Kari, meals too, and I also fell in love with that adorable and gentle and sweet Puchi, who repeatedly took my hand in his...so very touching.”
“Dear Robin, he is sooooo adorable, just as I remember him! Thank you sooo much for including me in this list. I just adore that little guy, and I can see that I am not at all alone.”
From Jo-Anne McArthur, Writer, Photographer, Founder of We Animals Media:
“If there ever was an example of kindness and resilience, Puchi is it. We don't know the story of his life but we can see that he went through some harsh times. And yet he remained curious, giving, sweet, playful. I love being around him. Doesn't everyone?! We have so much to learn from animals and I'm so glad that he's been given a great home at Jungle Friends.”
From Elizabeth Hess, Author of Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human, the story that inspired the acclaimed film Project Nim.
“Of course I remember Puchi! I still frequently think of him. He was one of the first monkeys to catch my eye, lure me to his side and reach out through the cage to hold my hand. What a strong, indomitable spirit! I think of him as the heart and soul of Jungle Friends, although there are so many stand-out characters there. I fell for Puchi right away.”
If ever there were an ambassador of goodwill for monkeys, Puchi is the man. What a difference one individual can make…..no words needed.