A L I Y A H

Aliyah spent her early life in a zoo with her monkey family. However, when she was around two years old, the alpha female of the group expelled her. Since the zoo lacked the facilities to keep her separate and wanted to give her the opportunity to make a new friend, she was relocated to our Jungle Friends Sanctuary.

Her first significant bond at the sanctuary was with Phil, an older golden-handed tamarin who had lost his sister. They quickly became close, spending their days together and snuggling up each night in their cube hammock. Sadly, Phil passed away, and Aliyah was then introduced to Willy, another golden-handed tamarin. Unfortunately, Willy, having been raised with a marmoset, did not adapt well to the new arrangement, possibly because he didn’t recognize his own species.

However, Aliyah’s social journey turned positive when she met Winthrop, an older cotton-top tamarin. They hit it off and have become an inseparable duo, demonstrating that even "odd couples" can find harmony and companionship at Jungle Friends. Aliyah and Winthrop's friendship illustrates the sanctuary’s success in creating nurturing relationships among its residents.

Like her kindred famous doppelganger, Ellen DeGeneres, Aliyah navigates her sanctuary with resilience, playfulness, and a strong sense of connection to those around her.