The small palace, shaped like a castle preceded the farmstead of the monkeys. Image taken from Havana Radio.
There are many places in Havana, known because of its history, architecture and importance; but without a doubt, one of them is the so-called The Monkeys’ Farmhouse, whose entrance is on Santa Catalina Avenue and Palatino Street, in the Municipality of Cerro.
It can be ascertained that all Havana inhabitants have heard something about it; or, at least about some of the legends about this small palace. This fabulous mansion, shaped like a castle was a matter of much talking in Havana during the first decades of the 20th Century, because of the way these apes were handled.
Actress Mary Hoyt appears in a “romantic” posture with Toto, Rosalía Abreu’s gorilla. Photo that Magazine Carteles took from National Geographic Magazine.
Their owner was Rosalía González-Abreu, an aristocrat from Villa Clara, (now central province of Cuba), born in 1862. She studied in the United States, and got married in 1883 in France to a Cuban doctor. They had four children. In1889, she returned to Cuba and moved in a large house, a property inherited from her parents, in the neighborhood of Palatino.
Here, Rosalía offered parties, animated by the most famous poets and singers of the Cuban Capital, In April, 1901; the residence was destroyed by a fire. Over the ruins, Rosalía had a Gothic-style castle built, designed by French architect, Charles Brun, using for the first time in Cuba, reinforced concrete for its construction. The inauguration of the castle was full of luxury, as expected – on May 3, 1906. An evening splendid reception was offered, widely highlighted by the press of the epoch. They emphasized the fact that the hostess showed up before the guests with a macaque and an orangutan.
No one knows for certain when this distinguished woman started her fondness for animals, and particularly, for apes. The fact is that she got to have in her farmhouse peacocks, macaws, parrots, deer, and horses. Some people ascertain that. She even had a small elephant; a real zoo! Likewise, her collection of monkeys went on growing, and she got to have a great variety of species; such as, squirrel monkeys, spiders, Capuchin monkeys, chimpanzees, and gorillas.
In a short period of time, The Delicias was known popularly as “the farmstead of the monkeys”; as they were undoubtedly known as the greatest attraction of this site. All of them lived freely in the gardens of the farmhouse; except for the gorillas and orangutans, which were kept in cages; as they sometimes might be aggressive. Some of them used to wear picturesque clothing, and sat at the table to eat; as well as, they would come obediently when their owner called them. Others would smoke pipes, or scratch the guitar with the nails.
Many legends were woven; so, the farmstead was involved in a mystery halo, a fact that the yellow press of the epoch made an echo.
Jimmy, Anumá’s father. Photo: Cuba Zoo
One of the stories had Cholo as main character, a very intelligent orangutan that happened to be a sort of home page in Rosalia’s house. She was amazed at the skillfulness the ape had developed, and felt affection for him. Cholo, on the other hand, had fallen in love with her owner. Every morning Rosalía would receive the manager of the farm to instruct him, and that approach aroused jealousy in the animal, in such a way that he asphyxiated the man; as he was considered his rival. Rosalía considered that action as a crime of passion. Anyway, she was against the sacrifice of the animal. So, he was given away to Campo de Marte.
The farmstead of the monkeys has really valuable history. The owner had the biggest reserve of monkeys in captivity in the world. She had enlarged her colony of apes with specimens that she brought from different latitudes. She noticed in some chimpanzees some traits of intelligence which she intended to develop. With patient and dedication she got them to do some simple chores. She got them to wear clothes and eat with fork and spoon, and drink out of glass. As she was so interested, she asked for scientific advising in Yale University, and in the North Carolina’s Zoo.
Another important event happened on this farm in 1915. The first chimpanzee in captivity was born. It was a sensation in the scientific world. This news was published in the Memories in the Cuban Society of Natural History in 1924 in the Carnegie Institution from Washington and the University of Yale. A commission headed by Robert Mearns Yerkes, famous primatologist was sent down in order to study the methods employed by Rosalía in the handling of the apes.
Cucusa and her son, Baby, first chimpanzee born in captivity in Cuba. Photo Revista Bohemia.cu
Yerkes not only recognized the magnitude of the research carried out by Rosalía, but also he founded the biology laboratory of apes of the University of Yales, in New Heavens, and in the Station of Breeding and Experimentation of Anthropoids in Orange Park, Florida.
This event caused that Anumá (name of the ape) were the focal point of journalists, scientists and researchers. This ape, begotten in captivity had a tragic ending. Although it had been raised with special dedication by veterinaries and servants, it was the most pampered, mischievous and favorite of the monkey colony. He used to throw fruits, stones, he broke nests, and ran away. At the age of ten, he was as tall as a man. He had a strong and capricious character.
A certain day one of the guardians, scolded him. The monkey got angry and tore his fingers off with a bite. Juan started shooting in the air asking for help; the monkey attacked him again. Lezcano killed him. Two years later an X-ray picture showed that the bullet had moved around towards his heart. Unluckily this was the end for the first monkey born in captivity.
Anumá’s death was a hard blow to Rosalía, not only because of the affection she felt for him, but also for being the main triumph of her life devoted to study and care for the apes. The famous chimpanzee was buried discreetly in the Abreu family’s ossuary, avoiding regulatory impediment of Colón Cemetery.
This woman, who contributed with a large amount of money to the Cuban pro-independence cause, and supported schools, hospitals, nursing homes for the poor, was one of the most controversial middle class lady from Havana, and the most respected world-wide, on account of her studies of apes in captivity.
Newspaper announcing the death of Rosalía Abreu. Photo: Ecured
When November 3, 1930, the monkeys’ benefactress died, the headlines of the press published that the lady had left millions for her animals. The truth is that Rosalía had offered her collection to the then president Gerardo Machado to build a zoo park in Rancho Boyeros, but as the idea did not come true for lacking of budget, her animals were moved to the Carnegie Institution and to Philadelphia Zoo park.
The orangutans, named Guas and Guarina were reproduced in captivity in this latter institution. They reached advanced age. Their remains are kept in the Smithsonian Institute; there, they are a sample of longevity record for orangutans in captivity. Two of their descendants were acquired for the Zoo park of Havana, opened in the forties.
There is no doubt that Rosalia’s labor has been a referent of consultation for scientists, and an example and inspiration for those who devote their lives in pursuit of animal well-being.
As from the 1960’s decade, the monkeys’ farm was dedicated to educative activities, and at present, it is used as a palace for pioneers. In the gardens, where formerly there were peacocks, deer, and all sort of monkeys. Today, Cuban kids have the chance to accomplish camping.
