Geography #1: Honduras and Capuchin Monkeys

The white face capuchin monkeys jumped onto the head of a small boy and we all giggled with glee.  If you have an opportunity to visit Roatan, Honduras, consider visiting Gumbalimba park in West Bay instead of a full day at the beach.  Walk through their outdoor botanical gardens.  Have patience for a parrot to land on your shoulder.  Watch the capuchin monkeys swing from tree to tree.

As one of the most intelligent monkeys in the world, capuchin monkeys have been known to use tools as weapons and for getting food.  They even have been trained to assist paraplegic persons.  Social in nature, capuchins often live in troops of approximately 16 members.
Gumbalimba park in West Bay, Roatan, Honduras.

Capuchins are native to Central and South America.  However, if you want to take your kids to see monkeys in the United States, here's three sites:
 1) Gibbon Conservation Center (Santa Clarita, CA) opens 9:30 to Noon Sat. & Sun., offering tours at 10AM ($15 adult, $5 child age 6-12), volunteer opportunities for adminstrative work, kitchen, and landscaping
2) Monkey Jungle (Miami, FL) established in 1935, it now has 30 acres and approximately 90 Java monkeys; some monkeys may show their water skills as they wade into the pond; home of the DeMond Conservancy for Primates & Tropical Forests

Parents can also show their support by volunteering time or donating:
1) Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary (Gainsville, FL) sign up to volunteer for various tasks such as cleaning, feeding, or landscaping (7-11AM, 11-3PM, 3-7PM) cater to monkeys confiscated or retired from research, see capuchins, marmosets, spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and tamarins

2) Born Free USA, a BBB accredited charity, includes a division "The Primate Sanctuary" supporting a 186 acre sanctuary near San Antonio, TX caring for 600 residents - baboons, macaques, and vervets

3) Primate Rescue Center, BBB accredited charity since 2000, located in central Kentucky

4) Primarily Primates USA (Bexar County, TX), BBB accredited charity

If you do visit Gumbalimba park, there's so much to do.  My husband took the canopy cables down from the mountain, using 17 stations and cables to meet me on the ground.                        Having ample time, my patience paid off as a parrot landed on my shoulder.  While the "pirate cave" onsite felt a bit commercial, the sandy white beach and clear blue water felt so natural.  We made friends and snorkeled to discover marine animals.