A wide-eyed squirrel monkey runs across a log as it plays with its food, popping a chunk of fruit in and out of his mouth. Behind it, another monkey climbs up a tree branch, its long tail wrapped around the bark. The squirrel monkeys move fast through their unlikely haven in the desert, where they leap from tree trunks and wooden planks onto thick ropes, scurrying through an overhead tunnel to their cooler indoor space to escape the growing heat.
The Temple of Tiny Monkeys has become a safe space for Mango, Mateo, Hudson and, especially, Toto, who in 2023 was rescued from wildlife trafficking…