Kids Saving The Rainforest Monkey Bridges

By Jennifer Rice PhD

In the year 2000, a group called Amigos Del Monos came to Kids Saving the Rainforest (KSTR) and told us that they could not get ICE, (the Electric Company), to help them put up monkey bridges. They felt that KSTR could get their attention. 

Luckily we were able to do so and the KSTR Monkey Bridge Program was started. Here is what most people want to know when learning about our bridges. 

• KSTR works with ICE & our KSTR Monkey Bridge team; Rocio, Lenin, and Tio.
• To date we have put up over 170 bridges & maintained them on a monthly basis.
• Currently there are 130 functioning monkey bridges.
• The others have come down because of development and loss of monkey habitat.
• We put up a bridge wherever there is a need for one, where a monkey has been electrocuted or hit.
• They are used to keep monkeys away from live wires and from getting hit by cars.
• We make sure the branches of trees don’t grow into live wires near bridges.
• Where troops can’t reach other troops for breeding, we put bridges.
• The rope for the bridges is very costly and each bridge costs $100 to put up!
• The Titi monkey has been on the critically endangered UN list since 1997.
• All of this subspecies live in our area.
• At the last official count there were estimated to be only 1200 of this subspecies left in the world.
• Our unofficial data by Lenin Roseles states that we now have over 3000 Titis!
• We are going to be doing an official count as soon as possible.
• KSTR is very grateful to have helped make saving this species possible.
• Please support our monkey bridge program by adopting a bridge.
• If you want a bridge, please go to adopt a bridge at: www.kidssavingtherainforest.org. 

Thanks so much for reading this article and please contact us if you want more information. You can also visit our Souvenir Store where 100% of the proceeds go to save the rainforest. It is located at the Hotel Mono Azul in Manuel Antonio.