Description of the attraction
On the shores of the Amazon, near the Peruvian city of Iquitos, there is a paradise called Monkey Island. This is the place where 8 of 51 species of primates living in Peru have found shelter and care, remaining free to live in the dense jungle of the Amazon.
On an island of about 250 hectares, thanks to a family project implemented in August 1997, endangered primate species such as the arachnid monkey, howler monkey, pot-bellied monkey, brown-headed tamarin and others found protection and habitat.
Monkey Island is home to papaya, banana and cocoa, which provide essential food for primates. Most came to the island through a monkey shelter and on “donations” from citizens who found primate orphans abandoned in cities or markets. For a decade and a half of the island's existence, the workers of the rescue center are constantly planting young seedlings of local fruit plants, and are fighting weeds and poaching. Daily contact between “guardians” and monkeys creates a special relationship that does not prevent them from maintaining instinct and makes it possible to adapt to independent life in their natural habitat. Thanks to the work done, the number of individuals of each of the primate species living on the island has increased significantly - from eight to twelve individuals are added per year.
Monkeys living freely on the island are very sociable and often make contact with tourists, sometimes they can "treat" themselves to a piece of juicy papaya or cocoa beans.
