Adopt an Animal
In amaZOOnico Wildlife Rescue Centre, we believe in second chances for our rescued animals. Often, the wild animals we receive arrive here in very poor condition and require a lot of extra care, sometimes including special diets and costly medical treatments. While we try to do everything in our power to rehabilitate them, unfortunately, some of them are too sick or injured or too humanized to be released into the wild again.
To give them the best chance of freedom or the most peaceful and comfortable life in captivity as possible, we need YOUR help. By adopting one of our animals, you can give them a second chance and we will keep you updated regularly about your chosen animal.
The Jaguarundis
Kakerlaka - The Coati
Our little baby Kakerlaka arrived in July 2022. He was only 4 months old when the Ministry of Environment brought him to us. Sadly, his mother was killed, and they found him alone. Coatis usually stay with their parents until at least 6 months old, which is why he would most likely not have survived on his own.
However, with your help, you can ensure that he grows up well and leads a happy life.
Dani - The Capuchin Monkey
Gima - The Spider Monkey
This lovely lady was brought to amaZOOnico in 2002 as a youngster; she was raised by humans from the beginning of her life, which makes her super friendly with all of us. Sadly, as much as we love a friendly face, this unnatural behaviour would put her at risk in the wild, so she will stay with us. Please help us give Gima everything she needs to enjoy her life at amaZOOOnico.
Canela and Kong: The Woolly Monkeys
These beautiful monkeys were at another rescue center that had to close during the pandemic. As they were homeless, we took them in to give them the care they need. We don’t know much about their backstory, but we do know they are super comfortable and loving with people, so it’s pretty likely they were pets. They love playing during the day and even calling out to our spider monkeys; in the wild they would hang out together. We sadly won’t be able to release these guys, but they would love for you to adopt them for $60 a month; they will love you strongly in return!
Johan - The Spider Monkey
This guy is one of the oldest inhabitants of amaZOOnico, having arrived in 1993 after being raised by humans. He was released for a short time but had to return, as his behavior put him in danger in the wild; sadly, this can happen when animals have an unnatural upbringing. Johan is the main male within our spider monkey community, he’s fathered many monkeys that we have since released to grow local numbers of this endangered species. Johan is super smart and keeps us on our toes… this clever monkey knows how to plot an escape; he has outsmarted a few of us over the years! Please help us care for Johan and give him all the nutrients he needs to keep him fit and healthy for many more years to come.
Mea - The Spider Monkey
Moving to amaZOOnico was a big change for our Mea; she used to be kept in a very small concrete and metal cage at a zoo; she even used to be afraid of trees and grass when she was arrived, which is very sad for a wild animal. But now she is thriving and loves swinging around the large cage with our other spider monkeys and enjoying all the fruits we feed her. Unfortunately, however, she would be at risk from predators if we release her. We would love for you to help us with $40 to give Mea the best foods, environment and enrichments, and enable her to keep enjoying her jungle life.
Nogo - The White-Throated Toucan
Toucans are striking birds, and our Nogo is no exception! He’s also super popular with the female toucans. He used to share a cage with our female toucan, Warmi; however, with the arrival of Isla in 2017...well, let’s just say he moved on! He’s a stunning bird, loves to sing, and loves his papaya, often hopping straight in to feast as soon as we place the fruit. He's too used to humans to live safely in the wild – his prized beak makes him susceptible to being hunted; but, if you adopt him for just $30 a month, you can ensure he has the best life possible with us.
A Pair of Green Macaw Mates
This pair of bonded Macaws are beautiful to look at and make lots of noise together. They are devoted to each other and show lots of care, like a very happily married couple! Having been rescued from the pet trade, they are not able to look after themselves in the wild, as they are too used to humans and unable to find their own food. By adopting this unique pair, you would be helping us provide the best food and care for them to keep them serenading us loudly for years to come!
A Baby Toucan
This tiny baby toucan arrived in February 2022, having been rescued from a community. Kevin's nest was destroyed when a tree was cut down, and, sadly, some children were throwing her up in the air to see if she could fly, which she couldn’t. She is gaining strength and can be heard quietly squawking when we come to feed, much like a mini version of our adult toucans! Please help us give this cute baby all the care and nutrients she needs to grow into a beautiful, colorful bird.
Esmeralda - The Anaconda
Esmeralda is a giant anaconda of almost 4 meters that has lived at the center for 14 years. She was found in the nearby city of Tena, where she was likely an abandoned pet or was used as a tourist attraction. As she is very used to humans, reintroduction into the wild is very difficult.
Adopting Esmeralda for $40 will help us offer her a nutritious menu and constant livelihood improvements.
A Charapa Turtle
Turtles are the second most trafficked animal in Ecuador, mostly due to their cuteness and slowness, making them super easy to catch. Many of the turtles here have come to us after being held as pets. Some of them have deformed shells due to nutrient deficiencies.
Our Charapas love to sunbathe on logs, so, whenever the sun is out, you'll see them lined up, catching some vitamin D.
Adopting our Charapas makes sure they get all the medical treatment they need to care for their deformed shells.
Adopted
The following animals have been adopted by amazing people.
Wachi has been adopted by a power mother-daughter duo from Germany, Sonja and Michelle Liesch
When Wachi was brought to us in 2016, he was still a baby and had to be bottle fed. Unfortunately, because of that, he does not understand that he has to stay away from humans and, therefore, most likely, will not be released. To keep him healthy and happy, nonetheless, we feed him a costly diet of chicken, eggs, and meat, and assist him with medical attention, if needed.
Isla has been adopted by Suraksha Chandrasekhar, a wonderful doctor from India
This beautiful White-Throated Toucan was brought to amaZOOnico in August of 2017. She arrived as a small chick bearing barely any feathers and showing several signs of malnutrition. Nonetheless, she grew into a healthy adult toucan, and we tried to release her one year later. Unfortunately, she was too comfortable with humans and had to be rescued again from a village nearby. We had to restart her resocialization program and are still hoping to release her at a later point.
Mani has been adopted by Rebecca and her beautiful family from Germany
Mani is a young capuchin monkey with a traumatic past! When he arrived here, we were full of hope to reintroduce him one day, but, since he is so used to humans, it would be impossible. Capuchin monkeys are incredible intelligent animals. They need a lot of attention and activity so they don't get depressed or stressed!
Woolly Bama boy has been adopted by Benjamin, one of our amazing volunteers from France
Bama was about one year old when he arrived at amaZOOnico in January of 2018. Due to people keeping him as a pet, he arrived here way too used to humans. Although his behavior has improved tremendously, he is still our most humanized Woolly Monkey. By adopting him, Benjamin is helping us "dehumanize" him, and work towards releasing him together with his woolly monkey family back into the wild, where he belongs.
Juvenile tapir Poppy has been adopted by two caring sisters, Suraksha and Lovelyn from India
Poppy was born in amaZOOnico in 2017, and is the second son of Carnival and Navidad. His older brother, Pumpkin, has already been successfully released, and we are hoping to release Poppy, too. As the second most trafficked bush meat, Tapirs are vulnerable to extinction. By adopting Poppy, they are helping us set up a release program for which we can hire a researcher and invest in monitoring equipment to help him avoid poachers. Additionally, their monthly donations ensure that he and his family are well-fed and healthy.
A wonderful couple from Slovaquia are welcoming Watson into their family
Watson, a spider monkey, came to us as a newborn. Her mother was killed so Watson could be sold in the black market. Fortunately, she was rescued and brought to amaZOOnico where, with Petra and Peter's support, we are be able to help Watson grow into a healthy monkey and give her the care she needs with the hope that, one day, she can be free in her natural habitat. She is so lucky to have such amazing adoptive parents!
The tapir mom: Navidad has been adopted by Johanna, a golden oldie volunteer who used to babysit her!
Navidad arrived as a baby on the 26th of December in 2011, which is why she has such a festive name! As a baby, she required close care and became very used to people; therefore, if she were to be released into the wild, she could be easily hunted.
Over the last ten years, Navidad has had a lot of experiences! She has fallen in love, enjoyed swimming, basked in the sun, tried a great variety of fruits and leaves... and in 2016 she became a mom! Her sons are Pumpkin and Poppy, two healthy males. We already released one of them - Pumpkin - back into the jungle. We want to release Poppy, as well, so that he can contribute to the conservation of this species that is vulnerable to extinction. If we are successful, it would be without a doubt thanks to Navidad!
This mom, like all moms, deserves to be well taken care of and pampered, right?
Dracula has been adopted by Connor, a young bright lad from the U.K.
Dracula is not a vampire; he is a dwarf caiman. He arrived at the center after being rescued from a hotel where he was constantly fed by tourists.
Now, he has a more peaceful life, in which he spends most of his time basking in the sun, while enjoying the pond he shares with the tapirs. Most people think he is a statue because he can stay very, very still.
Biala & Solana have been adopted by Susan, a sweet lady from the U.S.
These two are Biala and Solana, a couple of scarlet macaws that have been in love for more than ten years (and will stay in love until the end, as macaws are strikingly monogamous!)
Like most birds that have been victims of wildlife trafficking, Biala and Solana can't fly. At amaZOOnico, they live in a garden where they can move freely. It is very common to see them grooming each other, taking baths in their little stream, or climbing the tree for some exercise and a snack from their strategically-placed feeding table.
By adopting Biala and Solana, Susan is helping us care for the center's most romantic couple. You fell in love with them, right? We did, too!
Our sweet old lady, Josefina, has been adopted by her two favorite volunteers, Phillip and Kim
Josefina was used as a photo prop for tourists before she came to amaZOOnico. Luckily, a group of amaZOOnico volunteers reported this to the authorities, so she could be rescued. Now, she lives with us, where she loves to eat and sleep in high branches. She is a fine old lady who is very used to humans. Her species is, unfortunately, hunted for their meat or for the pet trade. With Phillip and Kim's contribution, we continue to educate the community on how to report animals that are being used for tourist pictures, illegal trafficking, etc., in order to protect the wildlife.
Pinky has been adopted by a group of young activists from Germany!
This beauty is Pinky. He arrived at the center in 2017, when the police found him inside an abandoned backpack in a public bus in Ecuador. He's very calm around people, so it's likely he was kept as a house pet.
Golden-mantled tamarins (in Kichwa, tamarin means chichico) are a near-threatened species. In theory, they are quite good at learning from each other, so, if wilder chichicos arrive, it's possible that Pinky could learn to be more independent and, eventually, be released with a group. He's already very good at hunting insects and finding sap from the trees in his enclosure, a crucial skill for tamarin monkeys.