By Sherry Boyd

This last month was a special month for our family.  My mom was able to spend a month with us.  Even though this was her third time to Panama, this time she was able to see so much more of Panama.  She helped me in the office and went with me on visits to schools to deliver gifts and letters, and take pictures of LACC students new in the program.

One of the highlights for the family during her time here was a trip to an island in Lake Gatun—a man-made lake that is used for the Panama Canal.  Jennifer has been investigating college programs.  It’s hard to believe she’s a senior this year!  She’s very interested in wildlife and had heard about a primate refuge on this island in Lake Gatun run by a professor who teaches for Florida State University’s Panama extension campus.  The professor invited the whole family to the island one Saturday.  We drove across to the Atlantic side near the canal locks.  The professor picked us up in a small boat and took us across the lake to the island. 

Tiger Island is home to the research station where refuge is given to 120 monkeys on 12 islands.  There are six species of monkeys, all of whom were injured or illegally taken as pets.  Some came from a zoo run by one of the military bases that closed.  Monkeys begin their recuperation in cages near the research facility.  They are slowly reintroduced into the wild.  The research facility is quite primitive.  At one point as we were visiting in one of the “bohios” (thatched-roof shelter) two parrots came to visit.  One walked right up to Rod and began nibbling on his shoelace!  

He then took us over to the neighboring islands to show us the monkeys.  The monkeys have learned the sound of the boat motor.  Each morning the boat comes to put food at the feeding station.  The monkeys come out of the jungle and swing overhead in the tree branches.  It was such a treat to see them up close and hear the professor describe their history.

The professor has asked Jennifer to come to the island as often as possible and to develop a multimedia presentation to educate other high school students in Panama about the program.  The presentation will be both in English and Spanish.  Jennifer really enjoys photography and animals, so this is a perfect fit!