Cayo Santiago Field Station

This facility serves as a natural laboratory for the in-depth study of a free-ranging rhesus monkeys macaque population, providing unparalleled opportunities for long-term behavioral and ecological research. Here, scientists can study primate behavior, social structures, and genetic evolution in a controlled yet wild setting, thereby contributing vital insights into the natural behaviors that underpin primate and human biology.

Supported by a comprehensive demographic database starting from 1956 and systematic genetic records from 1990 and older animals, the station's resources significantly boost the research capacity. This extensive database not only enriches the value of the Cayo Santiago Field Station but also complements the related colony at Sabana Seca Field Station and the skeletal collection at the Laboratory of Primate Morphology, consolidating its role as a premier setting for biomedical and behavioral research with Indian-origin rhesus macaques.

History of Cayo Santiago Field Station

Established in 1938, Cayo Santiago Field Station is home to a unique population of over 1,500 free-ranging rhesus monkeys originating from India. Funded by the Markle Foundation and initiated by Dr. C.R. Carpenter under Columbia University, this island was selected to safeguard a colony of rhesus macaques as geopolitical tensions threatened overseas research animal supplies during the approach to World War II. The island, measuring 0.14 square kilometers, is located about one kilometer off Punta Santiago and features a diverse ecosystem, maintained without natural fresh water sources, relying instead on rainwater catchment systems established at the island's inception.

Cayo Santiago serves not only as a vital research hub but also as a historical landmark in primate research, providing extensive insights into primate behavior, social structures, and genetics. The station is characterized by its rugged terrain of igneous and sedimentary rocks and a rich marine environment that adds to the ecological complexity of the site.

Over the decades, Cayo Santiago Field Station has been pivotal to groundbreaking studies in primate social behavior, reproductive biology, and disease research. The colony’s annual lifecycle, characterized by meticulous observation, documentation, and systematic genotyping of individuals, supports ongoing global research. This work bridges primate and human health and behavior, emphasizing the station’s lasting impact on scientific advancement.