Giving our animals a second chance here at amaZOOnico is an ongoing fight. The animals we receive often arrive in very poor condition and require lots of extra care. This can include specialised diets and/or costly medical treatments. Being an NGO means that we rely on people like YOU to help us support and care for the animals we receive.
By symbolically adopting one of our beautiful animals you are ensuring they get the best chance to be rehabilitated and released back into the wild, or ensure they live a peaceful and comfortable life in captivity.
Starting at just $10 per month, your donation goes 100% towards:
The animals specific diet
Buying new construction materials for enrichment and renovation of enclosures
Any medical care they require to improve their health.
Because of your support one of our friendly volunteers will provide you with regular updates on the progression of the animals welfare and any other exciting news!
Are you looking for the perfect gift for an animal lover?
Help sponsor one of our animals here at Amazoonico with a $30 one time fee and your loved one will receive their sponsorship certificate!
Here are some of our celebrity adopters still helping our residents and release candidates today!
Watson, a spider monkey, came to us as a newborn. Her mother was killed so Watson could be sold on 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.
Watson has now been released and welcomed in to the wild Spider Monkey group that surrounds Amazoonico´s natural forest. Watson would not have had that opportunity without Petra and Peter´s support!
Thank you Petra and Peter!
This spider monkey came to us in October 2023. Wildlife traffic is the fourth largest illigal traffic in the world and Otto had the misfortune of being a victim to this heinous crime. He came to us when he was about 2 months old and we integrated him into our spider monkey group. He only ever knew humans so these big monkeys were very scary for him at first.
Otto lives with our juvenile spider monkeys Lucy and Libertad and the three of them have formed their own group and are very happy together. They are living together at our release site Makisapa Alpa and are set to be released in September this year!
Due to Paula and Eleano´s ongoing help we can continue to enrich their lives and give them the best opportunities to learn natural behaviours before being released.
Thank you Paula and Eleano!
This baby spider monkey was born in 2024. When Sacha is old enough, she will be released into the wild along with two of our other release candidates Maya and Sumak, with the help of our rehabilitation program.
Thanks to Christine´s ongoing support, we have placed Sacha and her two companions in a bigger enclosure to give them the best chance to learn how to live high in the tree tops - just as a wild Spider Monkey would.
Our Spider Monkey rehabilitation program would not be possible without the help and support of people like Christine.
Thank you Christine!
Canela was brought to Amazoonico 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.
Whilst Canela cannot be released, she is lucky to share her home with our three other Woolly Monkey´s in our brand new open enclosure.
Thanks to Carla and Matt we are able to give Canela the freedom and space to sit high in the trees and hide amongst the braches whilst feeding her the fresh fruits she needs to stay happy and healthy.
Thank you Carla and Matt!
Gima - a young female Spider Monkey - was brought to amaZOOnico in 2002. Gima 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.
Ellen from Germany was inspired by Simon and Lena, two former volunteers, and unselfishly chose to adopt Gima in October 2024 and continues to support Gima´s life at Amazoonico today!
Thank you Ellen!
Johan 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. Johan is the main male within our spider monkey community, and he has fathered many Spider Monkeys that we have since successfully 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!
Thanks to Tobias, a former volunteer from Germany, Johan is still strong and a big part of our efforts at Amazoonico to increase the wild Spider Monkey population.
Thank you Tobias!
Emma lived at Quito Zoo for many years, but due to health concerns was sent here to Amazoonico where she can live in an environment more suited to her. Emma enjoys her alone time and her peace and quiet.
Due to the help and ongoing support of Katrin and her husband - the parents of one of our long term volunteers - Emma has been placed in the enclosure next to Igu (our male Tayra) and her health has improved majorly!
We could not have given Emma the chance to live happily and healthily without Katrin and her husband!
Thank you guys!
Igu the Tayra came to Amazoonico having being rescued from the pet trade. Farmer´s often misuse Tayra´s as pest control because of their incredible hunting abilities.
Like all Tayra´s, Igu is incredibly intelligent so in captivity he gets bored very easily. Due to the help and support of Sandra, a former volunteer, we are able to supply Igu with the enrichment (puzzles) necessary to keep Igu stimulated, and give him the best opportunities to behave as a wild Tayra would in the wild.
Additionally, because of Sandra´s help we were able to provide Igu with the physiotherapy necessary to repair one of his hind leg´s that was injured before arriving at Amazoonico.
Thank you Sandra!
This tiny 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 Kevin up in the air to see if he could fly - which he unfortunately could not.
Thanks to Fabian from Germany Kevin is gaining strength and can be heard quietly squawking when we come to feed, much like a mini version of our adult toucans!
Thank you Fabian!
Annabelle and Break are a couple of scarlet macaws that have been together since 2005 (and will stay together 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.
Thanks to Susan´s ongoing support Annabelle and Break can live out their lives stress free and in the loving care of our staff and volunteers.
Thank you Susan!
Unfortunately, we don't know much about this little squirrel monkey. Before it came to Amazoonico, it was a pet. Because of Johanna's behavior, which is not typical of a monkey, we can no longer release it into one of the large squirrel monkey groups that roam in the nearby forest. The groups would not accept Johanna, because of the strange behaviors.
This beautiful squirrel monkey was adopted by a couple from Belgium. Thanks to the adoption, we can now reliably pay for her medical treatment.
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 Kakerlake.
Though Blanca is not releasable, with thanks to Loli - a former volunteer from Spain - we are able to provide Blanca with daily enrichment and the nutrients to live out a healthy life.
Thank you Loli!
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.
Due to the help of Jan and his girlfriend, America can live a safe, happy and healthy life again at Amazoonico.
Thank you guys!