At amaZOOnico Wildlife Rescue Centre, we believe in second chances for rescued animals. Often, the animals we receive arrive in very poor condition and require lots of extra care, sometimes including special diets and costly medical treatments. While we do everything in our power to rehabilitate them, some are too sick, injured, or humanized to safely be released into the wild again.
To give them the best chance of freedom or the most peaceful and comfortable life as possible in captivity, we need YOUR help. By adopting one of our animals, you can give them a second chance.
Kiwi is the alpha male of the woolly monkey group. He came to us as a very young baby and was hand-raised by amaZOOnico staff. Kiwi often sits on the ground which is very unnatural for a monkey. We try to motivate him to climb by hanging food high in the trees.
By adopting Kiwi you can help us buy these fruits and give him a good reason to climb.
Diego joined us from another rescue center as he was facing challenges with his social group. Now, he’s exploring treetops for the first time in our large jungle training enclosure. Woolly monkeys like Diego face serious threats in the wild from deforestation and the illegal pet trade, which takes a devastating toll on their populations. With their prehensile tails acting like a fifth hand, they are perfectly adapted to life in the trees — a life we strive to give them here at amaZOOnico.
Canela was brought to us by the Ministry of Environment in 2021. She was transferred from another rescue center and is very used to humans, which means unfortunately she is not a candidate for being released.
Though she can’t be released, she now has a safe place to call home.
Keisha has been at the center since 2012 and was transferred from a university in the coastal region of Ecuador. Because of her time in captivity she is severely traumatized and often hides her face in her arms and cries. Since she has been living with the group in our large new enclosure, she has blossomed more and more and has become more self-confident.
We hope that with your support she will be able to overcome her trauma in the future and live the rest of her life here in peace.
Shila, our smallest woolly monkey, was rescued in 2024 from a nearby community, a place known for hunting wildlife to stock local mini zoos. While locals claimed she simply wandered into the village, this is unlikely given her species' natural behavior. We believe that she was abused as part of a tourist attraction. She is very intelligent and was the only wolly monkey to escape from the enclosure. She is still a teenager but she is growing fast and becoming more confident every day.
With your help, she will never again be used as a tourist attraction.
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 has fathered many monkeys that we have since released in our efforts to strengthen local populations 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.
Forrest was born in February 2024. He is growing up in the care of his mother, Mea, and will eventually be released into the wild as part of our Makisapa Alpa project. Since spider monkeys are endangered, we are dedicated to giving their offspring a chance to thrive in their natural habitat. Forrest, along with other spider monkey babies, will be released once he becomes independent at around 2 or 3 years old.
Your support can help make his return to the wild a reality !
Moving to amaZOOnico was a life-changing experience for Mea. Rescued from a zoo in Baños, she had spent her life in a tiny concrete and metal cage, without trees or grass. When she first arrived, she was even afraid of touching natural objects. But now, she’s thriving — swinging through the trees alongside other spider monkeys and enjoying a variety of fresh fruits. Though we tried to release her, she was found walking the paths by the forest guards who brought her back to the center.
Mea’s past makes her vulnerable to predators, but we’re committed to giving her the best care, a safe environment, and a taste of the jungle life she deserves.
This spider monkey came to us in October 2023. Wildlife traffic is the fourth biggest illegal traffic in the world and Otto had the misfortune of being part of that. He came to us when he was about 2 months old and we tried to integrate him into our spider monkey group, but because he is afraid of adult spider monkeys that was impossible. He only ever knew humans so these big monkeys were very scary for him. Now he’s living with our juvenile spider monkey Lucy and the two of them have formed their own group and are very happy together. Because he’s still a a young monkey he gets milk two times a day.
Help us care for him and buy him all the milk he needs to grow big and strong!
This stunning spider monkey is a bit more than a year old. Before she came to us she was kept as a pet but luckily she’s still very independent. She’s not too interested in humans. That's why she is part of our spider monkey release program. She gets a special diet so that she can adapt to the fruits in the wild.
We would be grateful for your help to provide all the special fruits she needs!
This little guy was born near the end of 2022. We have high hopes that libertad will be a future leader of his very own band of wild monkeys. For that reason he is now living in our isolated rehabilitation enclosure, preparing for life in the wild.
Please help us support Libertad's journey to freedom!
This baby spider monkey was born in 2024. When she is old enough, she will be released into the wild with the help of our rehabilitation program.
If you adopt our little monkey, you are welcome to give her a name.
Unfortunately, we don't know much about this little squirrel monkey. Before she came to us, she was a pet. Because of her behavior, which is not typical of a monkey, we can no longer release her (or Apichu) into one of the large squirrel monkey groups that roams in the nearby forest. The groups would not accept them, because of their strange behaviors.
Help us to give our little squirrel monkey a good life. And you can even give her a name.
This white tailed titi monkey, Isas, was most likely kept as a pet. Her condition was very bad when she came to us. Unfortunately, we know very little about her. These monkeys usually live in family groups and are monogamous with their partner for their entire lives. So that our Isas is not completely alone, she lives with the squirrel monkeys.
We would be grateful for your support of these special animals.
At the moment we have a few kinkajous here. Kinkajous are nocturnal animals, which is why we don't see them out and about during the day. We have a large, healthy kinkajou population around our center and because the animals are very territorial we can not release our captive individuals. People keep kinkajous as pets because they are very cute as babies. Over time, however, the owners realize that kinkajous are very bad pets because they attack people and destroy furniture.
We need your help so that we can give our kinkajous a healthy life here at amaZOOnico.
This female coati hasn't been with us for long. Before she came to us she was kept as a pet. Due to a deficient diet given by her careless owners, she has problems with her hind leg, as the bones have not been able to develop properly. Despite this, she climbs a lot and gets on well with her fellow coati Kakerlaka.
We don't have a name for her yet. Do you have an idea?
He arrived here in the Summer of 2022 as a juvenile, and was brought by the Ministry of Environment. His story is quite strange, as he was turned over by a man saying that a wild coati showed up at his house. Coatis are taken out of their environment for people to keep as pets when they are still babies, but when they grow up, coatis become more aggressive and are quickly abandoned.
Unfortunately we cannot release Kakerlaka so help us to make his life better.
This Tayra is called Igu. Until now we have not had many Tayras in amaZOOnico, as these animals are usually very shy and avoid contact with people. Igu is also very intelligent and gets bored quickly. That's why we regularly make him enrichments (little puzzles that he needs to solve to get food) to keep him busy. Before Igu came here he was kept as a pet. He has an injury to his hind leg and is receiving physiotherapy. Due to his history, Igu is very curious and playful and likes to stay at the fence of his enclosure to enjoy the attention of volunteers and visitors.
With your help we can give Igu the best possible life.
This ocelot, Don Tyson, is very shy. We usually only see him during feedings. He comes from another rescue center, so unfortunately we don't know any background information about him. We assume that Don Tyson is very old. That's why we're trying to give him the best possible life for his final years.
With your support, we're sure we can do that.
America came to us when she was four months old. She was always very aggressive, and was released when she turned one. America gave birth to four offspring in the wild, however, she also caused many conflicts by raiding crops on local community lands. A big issue when wild animals lose their fear of humans. Now America lives safely again at amaZOOnico.
As we can no longer release her, it is even more important that she finds a nice person who will support her hefty appetite.
Poppy is the 2nd child of Navidad and Carnaval. Their 1st baby, Pumpkin (named as he was born near Halloween) is one of our success stories and he was released into Selva Viva (2018). There are currently many wild Tapirs outside Amazoonico in Selva Viva, which means unless they change their territory and move further away we will not be able to release Poppy. We are continuing to explore other opportunities to release him.
Until then we are searching for a nice person who would like to adopt him.
Carnaval was transferred from a local zoo in Ecuador where he was living in deplorable conditions. He was kept in a small enclosure with no access to water, which is very important as tapirs are considered semi-aquatic animals.
Fortunately, this has changed. Help us to make his life as beautiful as possible for many more years to come.
This cute baby was born here at the center at the beginning of January 2024. America is his mother and the two of them share a big enclosure with a lot of space to hide. Tapirs are important for the ecosystem mainly because they are important seed dispersers, that’s why we hope we will be able to release Luther once he’s independent enough to be separated from his mother.
Help us care for Luther by donating 50$ per month so we are able to care for him the way he deserves.
Buffy was rescued from a Hacienda in 2017, where she was kept as a tourist attraction. Initially living in the charapa pond, she made the choice to move to the tapir pond, where she now prefers the right side. Unlike Dracula, Buffy is more frequently seen, although she can also vanish for a few days before returning as they are semi-wild. Caimans are quite intelligent animals, they observe their prey before killing it to learn their behavior and save energy when they attack them.
Dracula is a male dwarf caiman. He arrived at the center in 1995 and has since become known for his elusive nature. He usually stays on the far side of the pond and hides during the day as caimans are nocturnal creatures. When the pond is drained for maintenance, Dracula has a habit of disappearing for weeks, hiding in hard-to-reach spots. Like other caimans, he communicates through sounds, postures, and movements.
Turtles are the second most trafficked animal in Ecuador, mostly due to their easiness to capture and care for in captivity. Many of the turtles here have come to us after being held as pets. Some of them have deformed shells due to nutrient deficiencies.
The charapas love to sunbathe on logs, so, whenever the sun is out, you'll see them lined up, catching some vitamin D.
Adopting a charapa ensures they get all the food and medical treatment that they need!
This extraordinary macaw is the first of its kind that we have had here in amaZOOnico. Unfortunately, its species is now classified as vulnerable. Macaws often form groups of up to 30 individuals. He now lives with a group of Scarlet Macaws and Amazonian Parrots.
We would be very grateful for your support and love for this amazing bird.
We have many Amazonian Parrots here in amaZOOnico. They are often kept as pets, but they live to a very old age (up to 60 years) and can be quite loud. That is why many owners abandon their parrots after a while. These parrots can also imitate human sounds. They do not do this for fun, but rather as a reaction to confuse predators. Due to physical and psychological trauma, most of these birds cannot be released into the wild.
But we would be happy if you could help us to give them the best lives possible.
The center have two bonded macaws that need your help! Devoted to each other, they show lots of care and make lots of noise together, 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 special duo, you'll be supporting their care and providing them with the best food and attention, ensuring they can continue serenading us with their vibrant calls for years to come!
We did previously release Isla, but with her attachment to people she was quickly captured in less than a week and was being held again as a pet. The women from the local community notified us, and helped us rescue her again and she was returned to her enclosure at Amazoonico. Toucans use their long beaks to catch food but also to regulate their body temperature and dissipate excess heat quickly. The beak tip also contains numerous blood vessels and nerve endings directly connected to the skull, making the tip very sensitive.
The following animals have been adopted by amazing people.
Description
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.
Inspired by Simon and Lena, two former volunteers, Ellen from Germany adopted Gima in October 2024. By adopting Gima, Ellen is helping her very much! Thank you!
This tiny bird toucan arrived in February 2022, having been rescued from a community. Kevins nest was destroyed when a tree was cut down and sadly some children were throwing Kevin up in the air to see if she could fly, which the toucan couldn´t. Kevin is gaining strength and can be heard quietly squawking when we come to feed, much like a mini version of our adult toucans!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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?
These two are Annabelle and Break, 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, Annabelle and Break 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 Annabelle and Break, Susan is helping us care for the center's most romantic couple. You fell in love with them, right? We did, too!
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.
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.
Esmeralda is an 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.
Josua kindly adopted Esmeralda, which helps us (and the snake) immensely!