You Are Mine

 " Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine." [Isaiah 43:1b]

Stepping into the dim interior through thick heavy doors, I took a deep breath and let the cool wash over my heated skin. The South American themed cave-like enclosure at the Jacksonville Zoo is one of my favorite places to visit. One might assume it's due to the structure's air conditioning, an AMAZING relief from Florida 115 degree summer days, but it's not the cool air that draws me in every time we take a spin through the zoo. Nor is it the mighty girth of  the beautifully colored Green Anaconda wrapped around the large tree trunk in his semi-aquatic habitat. And ... while the Caiman Lizard is one of my all time favorite subjects to capture with my camera, it's not his dopey smile that has me rushing by the vampire bats and skirting the lookers-on face to face with the poison dart frogs. No, it's the tiny little primates that have me leaning up against the glass, smiling like a kid in a candy shop. One of those little boogers and I, go way, way back. 

Pigmy Marmoset Image: Pet Assure.com

Long before the new South American exhibit became a reality at the ever-growing zoo, the tiny little Pigmy Marmoset monkeys were housed in a cozy, small wired enclosure, decked out with their favorite foliage and nesting materials. An almost hidden little gem in the middle of a winding path, one could get nearly nose to nose with these cute little critters as they played and chatted with one another. However, I made that mistake only once - when the little male looked me right in the eye, turned his little butt in my direction and sprayed urine with a force that I found utterly surprising - covering me in his unique flavor of chemical branding.

Gross. 

For the rest of the trip I smelled that little monster. My clothes were covered in Pigmy Marmoset pheromones. I guess in the animal world, I was marked. I now belonged to the cute little monkey with the adorable little face no bigger than a quarter. I can't say that this made me particularly proud - but if I had been a female monkey, I might have had a different perspective on the matter.

The Pigmy Marmoset is quite the little bundle of cute. So cute, that a whole bunch of people have adopted them as pets.

And people, aren't the only ones.

Image:  ©Jeanne Shirley

In June of 2004 a group of scientists trudged through the dense South American jungles on a mission to study a group of Capuchin monkeys. Pronounced - Kuh-poo-chin - the larger species of primates in the study group had been the subject of photographer Jeanne Shirley. She probably had no idea when she set out on that balmy summer day that she would witness a life-changing event. For the first time in human documented history a group of non-domesticated and otherwise non habituated primates in the wild, adopted an animal outside of their own species. Immerging from the undergrowth, a female Capuchin was seen carrying a Pigmy Marmoset, and proceeded to nurse her as if it were her own.

Incredible on so many levels, this cross-species adoption has so far been the only one documented by truly wild animals. Capuchin monkeys are omnivores and have even been known to kill and eat smaller mammals in the area. It is EXTREMELY rare for any primate to share food, much less share it with an animal that is not in their own troupe. And this behavior wasn't limited to the female carrying the tiny monkey on her back. The entire troupe of Capuchins accepted this little addition, even so far as the alpha male allowing it to "sneak" a few nibbles of his own food.

Image: ©Jeanne Shirley

That is some mighty powerful cute, right there. 

It's unclear WHY this female took it upon herself to pick up the tiny little guy. No one knows if the Marmoset had been abandoned, or stolen. And we're not sure if the Capuchin wanted a pet or a child, but whatever the motivation, the little Pigmy had been adopted, completely. 

Myself, being an adoptee - this article from the American Journal of Primatology simply captivates me. It shows incredible heart, sharing, nurturing, and needs being met - both physical and emotional. 

Very much like our complete adoption by our Lord and Savior. 

In Isaiah 43, we are reminded that we have been completely and utterly adopted. Redeemed by no-holds-barred grace. We've been called by name - and given NEW life.

Like the tiny little Pigmy Marmoset - all we have to do is cling to our Savior.