Who we are and what we do
Projeto Mucky is an NGO and public service agency that has benefited primates of several species since 1985. It is the only organ of its kind in Brazil according to IBAMA (568189), the Ministry of Environment, and registered as a maintainer of Wildlife in the Secretariat for the Environment [1] of the State of São Paulo under the number 2452/2012. Our organization rescues, recovers, maintains, researches, and pursuits the breeding of endangered species. The Project is a haven for several species of Brazilian primates like marmosets, titi monkeys, common squirrel monkeys and howlers, offering shelter, uninterrupted care and veterinary medical assistance. It is also dedicated to the fight against wildlife trade through environmental education.
Projeto Mucky shares the view that all of us living beings live in the same world and have the same right to life, care and respect. Ensuring that this idea is taken out of the paper and put into practice is a duty of all.
Vision
Respect, compassion and acknowledgement of the dignity of other species.
Mission
Help and provide a life with dignity for Brazilian primates victims of loss of their natural habitats, abuse, accidents or seized from the animal trade, through distinguished and unique treatments.
Exercise environmental education with a different look, developing and sharing studies, new learning, concepts, values, techniques and sensitivity in dealing with life in order to provide transformative experiences to "citizens of the world".
How it all started
Mucky, the first marmoset rescued
"What fascination, what power is this that made me forget myself to live their pain and their victories? For the learning, my eternal gratitude."
Lívia Botár - Founder and Coordinator of Projeto Mucky
Male black-tufted marmoset, malnourished, naked tail, rope tied at the waist and ingrained in his muscles. His "loving" owner got tired and did not want him anymore. To save him, several surgeries and intensive care were needed. His name is Mucky, the precursor of Conservation Projeto Mucky.
Our story began in 1985 when the graphic producer with a degree in Physical Education Lívia Botár, today an environmentalist and coordinator of the Organization, received and welcomed Mucky, coming from the hands of a drug addict. In the following years, after a lot of research, and maintaining exchange with experts, she developed a peculiar methodology, which would rescue and help many other "Muckys".
In 1996, the entity already registered at IBAMA as a Conservation Project, moved temporarily, as required by the environmental agency, to a rural area in Jundiaí, São Paulo, and since then, the Institution is located in its own headquarters, occupying an area of 20 thousand square meters in the city of Itu / SP, which now houses and cares for about 200 primates, under the supervision of the Secretariat for the Environment of the State of São Paulo.
How we work
Jorge in his weekly session of acupuncture. A black-tufted marmoset, he sustained an electric shock when walking on the power grid wires, suffered a fall and was left with serious disabilities. He is now responding well to treatment, which is continuous, and is presenting gradual improvement.
The Institution receives many animals that are malnourished, blind, with fractured or missing limbs or with mobility problems due to injuries sustained mainly by improper maintenance of wild animals as pets. The animals undergo veterinary medical care in which they receive allopathic treatment and/or homeopathic, as well as alternative treatments such as hydrotherapy, acupuncture, physical therapy, floral therapy, color therapy, music therapy; the results of which are, for the most part, very fast and extremely satisfactory.
After treatment, primates are accommodated in the company of others, in enclosures built to represent their natural environment, so they may live in society. The animals receive care 24 hours a day from the tireless staff of the Project, which is composed of keepers, biologists, veterinarians, cooks, cleaning , secretarial, administrative and environmental education staff plus coordination.
A dedicated team trained by the NGO also engages in environmental work, studies and research (non-invasive), using data obtained from the recovery and maintenance of these animals in the "sanctuary" of the Project.
Facilities
Projeto Mucky - Itu, São Paulo, Brazil
Projeto Mucky is located in an area of 20,000 square meters, with 580 square meters of built area in the city of Itu / SP. The facilities include:
• 103 enclosures;
• Infirmary Ward;
• kitchen for the preparation of food for primates;
• kitchen for the preparation of food for staff;
• Snack area;
• Area for environmental education;
• Toilets for visitors;
• Bedrooms and bathrooms for residents;
• TV room and computers;
• Office;
• Laundry;
• Stockroom;
• Workshop and accommodation for eco volunteers
Environmental education and the fight against wildlife trade
"There are two beings that do not deserve to be unhappy: children and animals."
(Paul Léautaud)
The Institution receives many primates coming from the traffic or the "legalized" sale. Most of them arrive malnourished, blind, or with fractured or amputated limbs, with osteodystrophy and, especially, with severe emotional trauma due to injuries sustained by improper maintenance of wild animals as pets. Therefore, environmental education projects become indispensable for a "repositioning" of human beings in respect to other species.
Our existence is manifested in a space which combines various species, in interrelation and interdependence that make up an ecosystem. The importance and the significance of this coexistence are constructed by culture and education. The fight for existence and survival of each species is primarily a human task.
Believing that human beings can somehow rethink their way of being present in this world, the environmental education projects have among its objectives: build respect for diversity, be it cultural or natural; form concepts about the coexistence of species; develop the habit of watching wild animals in their natural habitat; build new ways of relating to wild animals, leaving them free; modify the concept of property, toys, etc. towards animals in general; build and / or establish new paradigms in relation to the environment.
The touching stories of recovered animals and learning with nature were transformed into youth and children's books, aimed at contributing to their education. The sale of these publications is another source of income to help fund the activities of the Project.
Knowledge and conservation
To support the proposal and the seriousness of the work done by Projeto Mucky, we continuously invest in technical and scientific cooperation with universities, biologists, veterinarians, students, primatologists and other experts who collaborate on the development of work plans, research projects, undergraduate final year dissertations and internships.
Lívia Botár
Lívia Botár is a former graphic producer and has a degree in Physical Education and Ecology / Environmental Education.
She is an environmentalist, founder and coordinator of Projeto Mucky, and – with almost thirty years of dedication and experience in the rescue and care of Brazilian primates - is considered one of the leading experts on primates in Brazil.
In addition to coordinating the Project, she actively participates in events related to the environment, and ministers lectures, courses and seminars in schools, universities, businesses and residential condominiums.