Nell's journey to her new home at the sanctuary began when she was rescued from a struggling roadside zoo, where she had lived in a crowded enclosure with 24 other capuchins. Initially, the sanctuary team expected a straightforward rescue. They knew there was a nursing mother and her infant among the group, but since all the capuchins were housed together, it seemed like a simple operation. 

That assumption quickly changed when Michelle, one of Nell's companions, and two other monkeys gave birth shortly after arriving. It became clear that the zoo’s claims about all the males being vasectomized were inaccurate. To prevent any more surprises, the males were separated into a bachelor group for vasectomies.

Nell, ever the nurturing figure, moved into a separate habitat with Michelle and her newborn, Cindy, where she could help care for the baby. Thanks to the loving care from her mother and Aunt Nell, Cindy thrived. She was mother-reared, sparing her from developing the stereotypical behaviors often seen in captive capuchins, such as rocking, digit-sucking, or self-grasping.

Today, Nell, Michelle, and Cindy remain a close-knit family. Even though Cindy has grown up, she is rarely far from her mother Michelle or her devoted Aunt Nell.