Baby Rico's journey began in Florida, where he was stolen from his natural monkey mother and sold. After being shuffled between two homes, he eventually found his way to Las Vegas. Thankfully, a good Samaritan named Frank contacted Jungle Friends about this tiny baby, believing that monkeys should not be diapered and kept in cages, but should live with other monkeys.

When Rico was a baby, he received around-the-clock care from the dedicated staff and volunteers at Jungle Friends. They took turns ensuring he had his formula whenever he made the tiniest squeak, never leaving him alone. As a baby, Rico should have been clinging to his mother and playing with other young monkeys in the wild. While humans are a poor substitute for a mother monkey, the team did their best to provide for him.

Rico now enjoys running through his new outdoor habitat, interacting with his neighbors, and chattering with other monkeys. He loves people and comes to greet them eagerly. Unlike most squirrel monkeys, Rico has a particular fondness for toys. Please consider sponsoring Rico. His story is a testament to the transformative work of Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary, turning a challenging start in the exotic pet trade into an "Almost Wild" life.