Bongo was stolen from his rainforest home and family and sold into research, where he lived for nearly two decades in a small lab cage, all alone. Fortunately, after the iron-toxicity studies ended, Bongo and 8 other capuchins were retired to Jungle Friends. Here, they all enjoy large, naturalistic habitats and monkey friends to do monkey things with. 

Bongo loves his new home, especially his monkey friend KC, who was also species-isolated for 29 years! Bongo really enjoys his rough-and-tumble play with his constant companion KC, whose only friend was the reflection in the mirror she carried around with her. After meeting Bongo, KC traded the "mirror monkey" for a real monkey friend in Bongo! 

Bongo and KC especially enjoy their grooming sessions, which could last for hours on end. After so many years all alone in small cages, they rejoiced in each other's company and reveled in their good fortune for having the opportunity to be together, livinng in a beautiful "Almost Wild" habitat, with loving cargivers, and monkey friends -- always looking out for one another. 

Unfortunately, Bongo became paralyzed from the waist down! He was rushed to UF for diagnostics and he had a ruptured disc and suffered from paraplegia. We were told there was no hope by the experts and were advised to euthanize Bongo. Here at Jungle Friends, we have seen so many monkey miracles, we were not about to give up on Bongo!

Our care staff rushed into action and built a rehab habitat to enable Bongo to pull himself around, with ropes and ladders moving him through the habitat. Feeders and automatic waterers were lowered, and KC nursed and groomed Bongo all day long. Nurse KC wasn't about to give up on her best friend, either!

Within just a few short months, Bongo was walking -- another true monkey miracle! Soon, Bongo was able to resume his treasured playtime with his dear friend KC. These two geriatric monkeys are still going strong. We attribute Bongo's amazing recovery to his determination and to KC's tender loving care; we should all be so lucky!