Katherine Jones

Francis: a Pet Spider Monkey Katherine Jones

Francis was a real live Ateles Geoffroyi spider monkey shipped to the U. S. in the 1960's from one of the South American rain forests. The baby primate was taken from his mother at about six months of age and sent to a pet shop in Los Angeles where he was purchased by a family with two boys and a pet dog. The monkey fell in love with the boys, fitted into the family and was named Francis. Raising Francis and meeting the challenges and demands of a spider monkey were many. He was intelligent, mischievous, cunning, and threw his share of tantrums when he couldn't get his way. Four years later when Francis matured and Lewis grew up, the family loved him and hated to give him up, but they did the kindest thing they could for him, Lewis found him a new home. With heavy hearts, Francis was taken to a local animal farm to live out his life with other spider monkeys.