Primate Protection League grant recipients announced

The International Primate Protection League awarded more than $100,000 to overseas organizations in 2008 to help small groups working with lesser-known primates or in troubled nations.

Among the groups the league is assisting are:

-- The Silvery Gibbon Project in Indonesia: This center cares for 28 silvery gibbons at its sanctuary on the island of Java, Indonesia. Silvery gibbons are members of a highly endangered species found solely on Java. Many of the project's healthy gibbons may one day be released back to the forest. One gibbon named Nakula, who had been kept as a pet, developed crippling bone deformities and is unlikely to be a candidate for release. The league provided funds for his care at his previous home while he was awaiting transfer to the new center under construction by the Silvery Gibbon Project and plans to make annual gifts for his care at his new home.

-- International Animal Rescue, Indonesia: Veterinarian Dr. Karmele Llano received a grant for work investigating the trade in slow lorises, a small nocturnal species with huge eyes. These animals are sold as pets all over Indonesia. Their sharp teeth are often chiseled away by animal dealers to prevent them biting. Llano and her colleagues are investigating the loris trade and working for prosecution of traffickers. They also care for confiscated lorises. Healthy lorises will be returned to the wild, but those with no teeth will receive compassionate care for life as they need a diet of soft food.

-- Ikamaperou Primate Sanctuary, Peru: This sanctuary cares for South American primates rescued from the bushmeat trade. All over South America primates are killed for food, including endangered species. Ikamaperou is working to buy land to protect it from development.

-- Tacugama, Sierra Leone: This sanctuary cares for nearly 100 chimpanzees confiscated from traders and people who illegally owned them as pets. During the civil war in Sierra Leone, Tacugama's animal caregivers crossed enemy lines to make sure their chimpanzee charges were fed and cared for.

Other recipients of league grants include groups in Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, Chile, Colombia, Cameroon and Nigeria.