The Monkey Bridges Are Up Again!
By Adriana Quesada, Manager of KSTR
As most of you know, a huge storm hit the Manuel Antonio and Quepos area in June, downing thousands of trees and branches, which in turn destroyed numerous monkey bridges.
The KSTR Monkey Bridge Crew went out several times to evaluate the damages, and found that a total of 32 bridges were affected by the storm, some of them partially damaged and many of them completely destroyed.
KSTR was forced to ask for help from the community for the first time since 2001, due to the magnitude of the damage. The total cost to fix and replace the bridges was estimated to be about $2000. It was very important to put the bridges back up as soon as possible, because the monkeys were dying where bridges were missing.
ICE helped by giving a crew and 2 cherry pickers to work on the bridges with the KSTR team. All of the bridges were replaced and new ones put up where other trees had come down.
It was then discovered that more bridges were needed on personal property where many trees fell and the monkeys could no longer pass in the canopy. So more bridges were needed and more funds. Thanks to a Press Release put out by donor, Byblos Resort and Casino, the rest of the money was raised.
Kimberly Barron, Director of Marketing for Hotel Byblos Resort & Casino wrote “To ensure the survival of the critically endangered squirrel monkey species, bridges have to be replaced, and new locations investigated and erected due to the storm.”
Kimberly also stated “This is not just a feel good donation; these monkeys are one of the main attractions for tourism in our area. Local Manuel Antonio hotels and tourism operations that depend on National and International visitors cannot afford to ignore this calamity. It’s a win-win donation as far as we are concerned.”
The bridges have been a huge part of the success of Squirrel Monkeys’ population increase and without them there would be many more electrocutions and deaths.
We want to thank the following businesses and people who have helped:
Byblos Resort and Casino www.bybloshotelcostarica.com
Hotel Mono Azul & Rainforest Restaurant www.monoazul.com
Titi Conservation Alliance www.monotiti.org
Casa de Frutas – Dave Houck www.casadefrutas.com
Blake Vojta
Scott Wollin
Rick Kendle
Brian and Mary Kendle
Thomas Joseph Farrell
Linda Riden
Charlie Strehlo
Marcos Pabon
Adam Morse
The above donations were received as of the time of publication. If you donated later, thank you as well!
If you are able to make a donation to help with the monkey bridge project, or with any other KSTR project, please go to www.kidssavingtherainforest.org and click on donations and adoptions. The Rainforest thanks you!