Mercury

On August 20th, Ruggs Construction Co. of Blanchard, Okla. was contracted to build an enclosure for Mercury, the Herpes-B positive macaque being released from a university in Virginia. The university contacted me in July 1999 offering to retire him to our sanctuary. If we could not take him, he would have been euthanized.
A large 20ft.x20ftx20ft high habitat has been completed. All that remains now is to put up his swings, hammock (purchased as cargo netting from Army surplus stores,) set in his water tank for bathing, some natural perching and add one pig tail macaque.

UPDATE: Mercury arrived here safely and is adjusting well. He is quite a character! He likes to throw things into his water tub. He loves shiny objects and bells. He slept a lot the first few days he arrived. He also took a sun bath, probably his first, felt the wind blowing into his fur, another first. He loves to watch everything. He touched the apple tree I cemented into his pen, ate a few apples off it, climbed over every perch and up and down his ladder to his hut platform, slept on top of his house, inside his house - tried out everything in his pen except the swing, so far.
Now, before people say, he won't be alone will he? He is within 10 feet of our other enclosure housing macaques. He can see and hear and vocalize with them. I have no doubt there will be others released from, if not this lab, other labs and a companion or three can be added. I will keep everyone in touch with that as it transpires. He will be housed with others soon!
Here's the most important part. The caring, sharing people that helped make this rescue possible. Without the donations I could not have accomplished this feat. Thank you all so very much. I have sent everyone a thank you card and will send newsletters to all unless you email me and say different.
Also, special thanks to the university that has made this possible for Mercury. Without their compassion, this would not have come to my attention. This rescue was made possible through a contact from TAOS.

Mercury shares his large enclosure with Detroit, another male pig tailed macaque.