A campaign to vaccinate endangered monkeys in Brazil against yellow fever may help save them from extinction But it also raises questions about when scientists should intervene to protect wild animals in a world increasingly disrupted by people 1) (AP Video: Lucas Dumphreys and Angie Wang) A golden lion tamarin sits in a tree in the Atlantic Forest region of Silva Jardim A campaign to vaccinate these endangered monkeys in Brazil against yellow fever may help save them from extinction A golden lion tamarin is handled by researchers after it was vaccinated against yellow fever in a lab run by the nonprofit Golden Lion Tamarin Association in the Atlantic Forest region of Silva Jardim Scientists in Brazil adapted a human yellow-fever vaccine to inoculate these endangered monkeys after yellow fever began to spread among the human population in Brazil in 2016 which quickly killed a third of the highly vulnerable tamarins A golden lion tamarin sits in a cage after it was captured in order to be vaccinated against yellow fever in the Atlantic Forest region of Silva Jardim The pioneering inoculation campaign started last year The effort to save the charismatic monkeys has led to a pioneering captive breeding program coordinated among around 150 zoos worldwide including the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington Research assistant Ademilson de Oliveira uses a telemetry device to locate golden lion tamarins in the Atlantic Forest region of Silva Jardim Many golden lion tamarins are descendants of animals carefully released in 1984 That effort and subsequent campaigns to replant and connect parcels of rainforest has seen the population of tamarins slowly recover A golden lion tamarin that has been vaccinated against yellow fever is transported in a cage to be released in the Atlantic Forest region of Silva Jardim before conservation efforts were put into effect habitat loss and poaching for the pet trade had reduced the number of golden lion tamarins to as low as 200 in the wild A vehicle drives under an ecological corridor that allows animals to cross over a highway in Silva Jardim The bridge connects the Poco de Dantas biological reserve with a farm that the nonprofit Golden Lion Tamarin Association acquired to transform into an ecological park who led the work of experimental vaccination of golden lion tamarins for yellow fever walks on a dirt road on his family’s property in the Atlantic Forest region of the Silva Jardim region recalling the afternoon nearly 40 years ago of one of the first successful reintroductions of golden lion tamarins inoculates a pregnant golden lion tamarin with a yellow fever vaccine in a lab run by the nonprofit Golden Lion Tamarin Association Conservationists who had toiled for decades to protect the monkeys were sharply divided over whether to inoculate the tamarins the virus wouldn’t impact the monkeys; others worried that any kind of novel intervention would be too risky A golden lion tamarin is examined before it is inoculated with a yellow fever vaccine in a lab run by the nonprofit Golden Lion Tamarin Association When the golden lion tamarin population was being decimated by yellow fever conservationists who had toiled for decades to protect the monkeys were sharply divided over whether to inoculate the tamarins president of the Golden Lion Tamarin Association talks with field coordinator Andréia Martins Martins has been tracking golden lion tamarins in the rainforest for nearly four decades A golden lion tamarin is measured before it is inoculated with a yellow fever vaccine at a lab run by the Golden Lion Tamarin Association in the Atlantic Forest region of Silva Jardim Rio de Janeiro state While authorities elsewhere have inoculated animals to safeguard human health – vaccinating feral dogs and wild animals such as raccoons for rabies and other diseases – it’s still very rare for scientists to administer vaccine injections to directly protect an endangered species Research assistant Ademilson de Oliveira wraps sheets of newspapers around a cage holding a golden lion tamarin as a way of reducing stress for the animal before it is vaccinated against yellow fever in a lab run by the nonprofit Golden Lion Tamarin Association While authorities elsewhere have inoculated animals to safeguard human health it’s still very rare for scientists to administer vaccine injections to directly protect an endangered species Field coordinator Andréia Martins releases a golden lion tamarin after it was inoculated against yellow fever The longtime biologist for the nonprofit Golden Lion Tamarin Association can spot the tiny shimmer of golden fur among a green canopy and recognize more than 18 distinct vocalizations – from the specific calls of alpha males to their mates to varying sounds to alert young monkeys to different types of food and predators whose name derives from the shock of orange fur that frames its face like a mane has watched its habitat shrink over decades — even centuries -- of rampant deforestation Animal traffickers have also targeted the brightly colored monkeys Brazil (AP) — In a small lab nestled in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest researchers with gloved hands and masked faces cradle four tiny golden monkeys so a veterinarian can delicately slide a needle under the thin skin of each sedated animal’s belly biologist Andréia Martins brings them to the precise spot where they were caught She opens the wire cages and the monkeys dart out ascending the canopy and regrouping as a family They chatter noisily as they vanish into the rainforest strange encounter with humanity has been for the sake of their own health – and the survival of their kind have now been vaccinated against yellow fever part of a pathbreaking campaign to save a threatened species “Vaccinating wild animals for the sake of animals president of the nonprofit Golden Lion Tamarin Association When yellow fever began to spread in Brazil in 2016 resulting in more than 2,000 human infections and around 750 deaths it also quickly killed a third of the highly vulnerable tamarins So scientists in Brazil customized a yellow fever vaccine for the endangered monkeys and already more than 300 tamarins have been vaccinated The first such effort in Brazil — and one of the first worldwide — it raises vital questions about how far to go to save a species from extinction Researchers vaccinate a monkey against yellow fever One of the traditional adages of conservation is “Leave it be.” But in an age when every corner of the globe is touched by human influence – from melting icebergs to fragmented forests to plastic-filled oceans – a new generation of scientists and environmentalists is increasingly calling for more interventionist approaches to save wild animals and ecosystems “There are people who say we shouldn’t touch nature there are no pristine natural habitats left,” said Tony Goldberg a disease ecologist and veterinarian at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who supports vaccinating wildlife when it’s safe and practical “People are waking up to the magnitude of the problem and realizing they have to do something.” a conservation biologist at State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro is among the scientists who have worked for more than three decades to protect the golden lion tamarins twice going to their rescue when extinction threatened He says the vaccinations are the only option left: “Is it too extreme “We have to intervene when it’s a human-borne conservation risk if you’re going to have an environment with wildlife,” said Ruiz-Miranda But humans have drastically changed the conditions and impacts of how they spread in wildlife Epidemics can travel across oceans and borders faster than ever and species already diminished by habitat loss and other threats are more at risk of being wiped out by outbreaks “Human activity is absolutely accelerating disease spread in non-human populations,” said Jeff Sebo an environmental researcher at New York University who was not involved in the Brazil project It’s tough to decide which species get the attention and resources needed for survival a political climate of anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic and misinformation about vaccines in general has caused delays they could be pioneers to show what’s possible to save threatened wildlife The story of the golden lion tamarins is an epic saga – one that Marcos da Silva Freire he spent weekends at his family’s property in the Atlantic Forest Brazilian primatologist Adelmar Faria Coimbra-Filho first raised alarms about the shrinking population of the tamarins Habitat loss and poaching for the pet trade had reduced their numbers to as low as 200 in the wild Southeastern Brazil was once covered by the rainforest but today the undulating landscape is an uneven checkerboard of dark green jungle and grassy cow pastures – only 12% of this rainforest remains Yet it’s the only place in the world that wild golden lion tamarins live Scenes from Brazil’s fragmented Atlantic Rainforest The effort to save the charismatic monkeys – famous for their copper-colored fur and small inquisitive faces framed by silken manes – led to a pioneering captive breeding program Many of those animals were then carefully released in Brazil starting in 1984 Freire walks along a dirt road on his property shafts of light splintering through palm fronds “The first monkeys were released near here recalling the afternoon nearly 40 years ago He smiled when he saw some of their descendants two monkeys scampering along a swaying vine and soon vanished into a kaleidoscope of green that learned to be successful again in the wild Thanks to that effort – and subsequent campaigns to replant and connect parcels of rainforest – the population of tamarins slowly recovered Researcher Andréia Martins watches for monkeys among the forest canopy Andréia Martins pulled on a camouflage jacket She followed a narrow path through the rainforest stopping periodically to whistle in imitation of monkey contact calls Martins has been tracking golden lion tamarins in the rainforest for nearly forty years The longtime biologist for the Golden Lion Tamarin Association can spot the tiny shimmer of golden fur among a green canopy and recognize more than 18 distinct vocalizations – from the specific calls of alpha males to their mates she recorded the noisy encounter between two monkey families a dozen or so animals chattering loudly to proclaim territory LISTEN: Golden lion tamarins chatter from atop trees recording detailed population data for four decades that researchers were even able to track how many tamarins were killed by the yellow fever virus when it began circulating After the first lab-confirmed death of a tamarin from yellow fever in 2018 her team’s census revealed the population of wild tamarins had dropped from 3,700 to around 2,500 Inside the Poço das Antas Biological Reserve one of the largest tracts of continuous forest they inhabit the death toll was even steeper: A population of around 400 tamarins dropped to just 32 “They just weren’t there anymore,” she recalled The tamarins had fallen victim again to human encroachment it’s possible to see swathes of replanted rainforest as well as the newly expanded BR101 highway bringing a steady stream of traffic into the region “This epidemic moved very quickly from north to south across the country – no wildlife does that,” said Ruiz-Miranda They bring the disease with them.” Yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes but highly mobile infected people spread the disease much farther and faster than insects alone It was a tragedy – it showed us how vulnerable this small population is,” said Ferraz of the nonprofit Golden Lion Tamarin Association we could lose the entire population if we did nothing.” Marcos da Silva Freire had gone on to specialize in viruses he was a deputy director of technological development at Brazil’s Oswaldo Cruz Foundation which oversees vaccine diagnostics and production in the country Conservationists who had toiled for decades to protect the monkeys were sharply divided over whether to vaccinate them Some were hopeful the virus wouldn’t impact the monkeys; others worried that any kind of novel intervention would be too risky He arranged with the Primate Center of Rio de Janeiro to begin trials of different doses of yellow fever vaccines on about 60 monkeys he checked the level of antibodies in their blood – the vaccine appeared to work Freire started to draw up a plan for the tamarins “The idea is to vaccinate 500 animals,” he said then collect blood samples later – to test the safety and efficacy.” The biologists had already honed a technique for luring the wild monkeys into baited cages but monkeys eat bananas,” said the scientist Ruiz-Miranda But seeking official permissions for something that had no precedent in Brazil When the team finally got government approval to begin vaccinating wild monkeys Freire supervised the first rounds of shots they’ve vaccinated more than 300 tamarins and detected no adverse side effects 90% to 95% have shown immunity -- similar to the efficacy of human vaccines and the monitored monkey population has stabilized overall and even increased a little inside the Poço das Antas Biological Reserve And now the golden lion tamarins have a better shot at surviving as symbols of the Atlantic Forest WATCH: Luís Paulo Ferraz on protecting the golden lion tamarins’ only home in the wild There was the campaign to vaccinate endangered Hawaiian monk seals against a strain of morbillivirus And rabies vaccines have been administered orally to the endangered Ethiopian wolf and a few other species a wildlife veterinarian and epidemiologist at Cornell University has studied another potential vaccination campaign by modeling the number of Amur tigers in Russia that would need to be inoculated to provide protection against canine distemper “Infectious diseases are presenting a conservation threat to wild species and these are only going to increase as populations become more fragmented and isolated,” he said Of special concern are cases when encounters between humans or domestic animals and wildlife directly pass diseases to threatened species as with respiratory diseases and great apes Several studies have shown that chimpanzees that live near human settlements have higher rates of multiple diseases “There’s a great debate now about whether it’s a ticking time bomb before wild great ape populations get infected with COVID and it sweeps through groups and kills many apes,” said the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Goldberg other scientists urge caution for any kind of new intervention “What are the unintended consequences of vaccination You can’t always be certain,” said Jacob Negrey a biologist and primatologist at Wake Forest University’s School of Medicine “That would be my major hesitation – have we adequately controlled for every last variable?” a biologist and president of the U.S.-based nonprofit Save the Golden Lion Tamarins was initially wary of the vaccination campaign in Brazil “When we choose to vaccinate wild animals against a disease we may be giving them an advantage over non-vaccinated animals – and by doing that we are acting potentially against natural selection that would be acting to improve the genetics of the species,” he said “It was only when I realized the scope of mortality that I realized we had to do this,” he said “And I’m very happy with the direction we took.” While golden lion tamarins are tiny – weighing less than 2 pounds – and can be lured into cages with banana bait “It’s exceedingly difficult to capture wild tigers and provide a vaccine,” said Dale Miquelle who leads the global tiger program at nonprofit Wildlife Conservation Society his organization recommends that “for small and highly vulnerable populations it’s a good idea to do vaccinations” against canine distemper scientists have applied for permits to begin a field trial of vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia which infects up to 80% of animals in some populations “Catching koalas is really stressful on the animals,” said Samuel Phillips a biologist at Australia’s University of the Sunshine Coast “It’s a fine juggling act between causing stress on them and trying to help.” he and other scientists feel that through habitat loss and other environmental changes “We have decreased their population so much that it’s already at a critical point.” His conclusion: “We need to do more to help them survive.” The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group The AP is solely responsible for all content There are now more golden lion tamarins bounding between branches in the Brazilian rainforest than at any time since efforts to save the species started in the 1970s the population has rebounded to around 4,800 according to a study released Tuesday by the Brazilian science and conservation nonprofit Golden Lion Tamarin Association but always keeping one eye on other threats because life’s not easy,” said the nonprofit’s president Golden lion tamarins are small monkeys with long tails and copper-colored fur that live in family groups led by a mated pair which all family members help to raise by bringing them food and carrying them on their backs The monkeys, which live only in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest The population survey was conducted over roughly a year Researchers went to specific locations and checked whether monkeys responded to recordings of the tamarins’ long call a biologist and vice president of the U.S.-based nonprofit Save the Golden Lion Tamarin The new population figures are notable because the species had experienced a sharp decline from a yellow fever outbreak Scientists intervened by vaccinating more than 370 monkeys against yellow fever using shots adapted from a formula for humans — a fairly novel approach for conservation Scientists “cannot pinpoint a single exact cause for the recovery,” but believe several factors may be at play a State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro biologist who advised on the population study Firstly, the yellow fever outbreak has subsided perhaps due to a combination of the virus’ natural cycle and the vaccination campaign The animals may also be benefiting from an increase in forest habitat who is also a research associate at the Smithsonian Institution’s Conservation Biology Institute the amount of connected forest habitat increased 16% mostly through forests regrown on converted cattle pasture Currently about three dozen farmers and ranchers in the Atlantic Forest region participate in such reforestation programs “It makes me so happy to see the tamarins playing free on my farm They don’t only live in protected areas,” said Ayrton Violento a farmer and entrepreneur in the small city of Silva Jardim His family’s Fazenda dos Cordeiros has planted native fruit trees and also manages a tree nursery for native Atlantic Forest seedlings to plant on other farms he was still concerned about a renewed risk of trafficking for the illegal pet trade but had almost disappeared in recent decades due to enforcement the anti-poaching nonprofit Freeland Brazil reported that Suriname’s forest service had seized seven golden lion tamarins and 29 endangered Lear’s macaws believed to have been trafficked from Brazil for sale in Europe “We have seen the resilience of the species but also know they are still vulnerable,” said Ferraz Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition ¿Quieres añadir otro usuario a tu suscripción ¿Por qué estás viendo esto? cambia tu suscripción a la modalidad Premium Cada uno accederá con su propia cuenta de email lo que os permitirá personalizar vuestra experiencia en EL PAÍS ¿Tienes una suscripción de empresa? Accede aquí para contratar más cuentas En el caso de no saber quién está usando tu cuenta, te recomendamos cambiar tu contraseña aquí. Si decides continuar compartiendo tu cuenta, este mensaje se mostrará en tu dispositivo y en el de la otra persona que está usando tu cuenta de forma indefinida, afectando a tu experiencia de lectura. Puedes consultar aquí los términos y condiciones de la suscripción digital. On Monday and Tuesday (the 13th and 14th) of May, the project “Strengthening the reach and impact of human rights movements in Brazil” will hold its first regional training meeting with leaders of resistance movements in the state of São Paulo, an event that focused on the fight for justice and memory in Brazil; an act in memory of the victims of May Crimes. The event was held at Unifesp’s Baixada Santista Campus on the 13th of May. The project will develop training activities in forensic anthropology, human rights, advocacy strategies and documentation of the process for mothers and family members of victims of state violence. On the 14th of the same month, a panel debate will be held on “the potential of the fight for memory and justice against authoritarianism in Brazilian democracy”. Immediately after the debate, the act begins in memory of the victims of the Crimes of May 2006 making it 18 years of no answer. Participating in the debate are: Débora Maria da Silva; founder and Coordinator of the Independent Mothers of May Movement, Raiane Assumpção; dean of Unifesp, Dina Alves; researcher and lawyer at OAB/SP, Gabriel Sampaio; director of litigation and advocacy at Conectas and Dr. Bruno Renato Teixeira; National Secretary for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights. 2025 - Conectas Human Rights - Postal Code 47 - São Paulo (SP), Brazil - ZIP: 01032-970 - Phone: +55 (11) 3884-7440 executive director of the metapopulation project that works to protect the numbers of golden lion tamarins."Genetically that population would be isolated and that is really bad We need a large forest protected and connected," he said.The bridge shrubs and plants in the hope of making a natural corridor attractive to the primates The vegetation is still young and will take time to grow to a size usable for the monkeys.Ferraz said that a population of 2,000 golden lion tamarins should have at least 25,000 hectares of forest The golden lion tamarin has lost about 95% of its original habitat in Brazil conservation groups estimate."That's why this bridge here was so strategic and important for the conservation program," Ferraz said.Reporting by Sebastian Rocandio Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved 43,000+ global companies doing business in the region 102,000+ key contacts related to companies and projects news and interviews about your industry in English Like many new immigrants settling in rural locations in Canada I had limited access to publicly funded care and no money to pay for private care to deal with health issues after arriving I did what many of the immigrants I have met do: I received virtual care from professionals in my home country for more than a year and scheduled a surgical procedure there when visiting family Luckily for me and the Canadian health-care system While I wasn’t technically a tourist when receiving that care it was a similar situation to that experienced by the growing number of Canadians seeking medical care abroad Medical Tourism (MT) is the practice of travelling across international borders to purchase medical assistance. This type of service consumption is believed to have started in the 18th century, when Europeans travelled to spas where the waters were thought to benefit one’s health. Since then, the industry has seen its fair share of changes In 2019, the number of cross-border patients worldwide was estimated to be 21 million-26 million. At the same time, the global MT market accounted for more than US $100 billion and is projected to double in value in less than 10 years I first came across medical tourism while doing a rural clinical observership in British Columbia A male patient in his 50s was following up on his vitamin and iron deficiencies with the local family doctor I wasn’t surprised by this since I knew he had undergone bariatric surgery What I didn’t expect was hearing how he and a group of fellow Canadians had gone to Mexico several years earlier for their surgery I listened to a similar history in an internal medicine specialist’s office in Vancouver the patient was planning a trip to India for spine surgery Canadians spent as much as $2.3 billion on out-of-country health care Among the top destinations for medical tourism are Costa Rica Canadian physicians have also expressed concerns that MT disrupts the continuity of care and their ability to provide adequate follow-up care Focus group participants also worried about legal liabilities should they be asked to clinically support treatments started abroad The questions and issues brought forth by the flourishing field of MT need to be explored to understand patient flow, motivations, expenditure trends and system impact of outgoing and incoming MT institutions and patients need to be able to understand and analyze the risks for overall public health as well as the potential benefits of alleviating wait times and costs The fact is MT is a fast-growing global market is Canada’s first jurisdiction to be granted a federal exemption to decriminalize personal drug possession up to 2.5 grams Mariana da Silva Jardim is an internationally trained physician and a family medicine resident at the University of Toronto Republish this article on your website under the creative commons licence Your support allows us to publish journalism about healthcare in Canada that is free to read and free to republish Sign up below to receive our newsletter every Thursday morning Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" You can republish our articles online or in print for free Please read the full set of instructions for republication here Home - Programas e Projetos - GOLDEN LION TAMARIN ECOLOGICAL PARK the base of the Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado—AMLD (Golden Lion Tamarin Association) is scheduled to become an ecological park open to visitation in 2021 The property is home to one end of a pioneering eco-overpass that gives wildlife safe passage across the BR-101 highway and functions as an ecological corridor linking up with the Poço das Antas Biological Reserve Connectivity between isolated pockets of Atlantic Forest is fundamental to ensuring free transit and gene flow for this little marmoset The project Partnership for the Implementation of the Golden Lion Tamarin Ecological Park supports the structuring and consolidation of the park The initiative lends continuity to the company’s backing which has so far enabled the planting of 20 thousand seedlings of native species across an area equivalent to 14 football pitches Among the project’s benefits are the construction of a belvedere that will allow visitors and researchers to observe and monitor golden lion tamarin troupes Located at one of the highest elevations in the park it will supply a privileged vantage point from which to survey the landscape The project also provides for the training of guides—thus generating local incomes—and onsite events where people can meet the animals and learn about the main challenges facing this endangered species the existing population of the golden lion tamarin endemic to this specific part of the Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro is estimated at 2,500 (down from 3,700 in 2014) The species was heavily affected by the outbreak of yellow fever that hit the Southeast of the country in 2016 This small marmoset with striking orange-red fur has been a victim of animal trafficking ever since it was first described by travelers back in the 16th Century they were sent to Europe to be sold among the nobility as pets from the exotic tropics Numbering only 200 surviving specimens in the 1970s population figures have rebounded and grown twelvefold thanks to the ongoing conservation drive Contato: [email protected] Quando utilizar: Para reportar reclamações referentes aos procedimentos do FUNBIO ou o efeito negativo de projetos (salvaguardas) Contato: [email protected] Quando utilizar: Para reportar desvios de conduta de acordo com o Código de Ética do FUNBIO Como deixar o seu relato: Acesse o site ou use o canal telefônico reporte o caso e salve o número de protocolo para acompanhamento Relatórios de atividades: 2018 – 2019 Relatório de atividades Consultas e Denúncias: 2024 Contato: 0800-721-1432 ou acesse o site aqui  Protesto em processos de compras e contratações Contato: [email protected] Quando utilizar: Participantes de processos de compras e contratações que entendam que a política de compras e contratações do FUNBIO não foi observada em algum processo específico Contato: [email protected] Quando utilizar: O FUNBIO, declara-se responsável pelo tratamento e proteção dos dados pessoais e sensíveis, para os fins indicados em sua Política de Privacidade. O FUNBIO disponibiliza este canal como meio de contato sobre qualquer assunto relacionado a esta Política de Privacidade Intranet RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - The overpass juts from a forest over a four-lane highway in a rural area outside Rio de Janeiro It's meant for a very special sort of pedestrian: golden lion tamarins small orange primates that for decades have been at risk of extinction This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing The flashy young owners of a new Sydney restaurant that features a lavish $4 million interior have been accused of not paying staff - for the second time are already facing action in the Federal Court over allegations they failed to pay staff at their restaurant Upper East Side in Bondi The couple were taken to court after an investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman Fair Work alleged that Upper East Side staff - many of whom were on working holiday or student visas - had been underpaid or in some cases received no payment at all There are now similar claims from workers at new CBD venue Meu Jardim - where Mr Da Silva boasted about spending $4.1 million on a fit out that includes a firepit and waterfall According to ASIC documents Ms Gelonese took over from her boyfriend as director of Upper East Side in 2019 But both restaurants share the same registered business address according to ASIC 'I like to create things that shock the system. You’re surrounded by brickwork in the laneway and then you come inside and bang – you’re in a glacier cave,' Mr Da Silva told Broadsheet earlier this year. 'We're changing the mould... when you come in it's like a futuristic oasis.'  Daily Mail Australia can reveal that within just months of opening, staff at Meu Jardim were chasing management for their wages, with many claiming they are still owed superannuation. Matteo Pellegrino began working at Meu Jardim in January as the restaurant geared up for its grand opening. The 28-year-old was hired as a supervisor and was initially impressed by the venue, but his attitude quickly changed when he was not paid on time - forcing him to take out a bank loan just to pay his bills. 'We found out after we had been employed and had been working with them for a while that they had not been paying people over there at the Bondi venue', Mr Pellegrino said.  'By the time it opened we'd already got every single one of our pays late. They kept assuring us that once they were opened, once they had revenue: "We're going to be fine to pay you".  'But even still, weeks after we opened they were paying us late. 'We were meant to be getting paid weekly but it was really once or twice a month, on different dates, and there was just no consistency to it.  'I had to borrow money after I blew through my savings. (I had to borrow) from a bank and also from my parents.'  Mr Pellegrino said Ms Gelonese and Mr Da Silva would come into the restaurant on a few occasions each week, but barely engaged with staff. He said the couple seemed more interested in their lavish 'Instagram lifestyle' than they were in running a successful business. 'I just got the impression that they just wanted to have an Instagram lifestyle and thought that maybe by opening a fancy restaurant they could do that,' Mr Pellegrino said. 'There was this guy that they said was a secret investor. He was funding the whole thing essentially, I'm not sure why.' Other staff members who worked at Meu Jardim had similar experiences. One man, who did not want to be named, said he was also consistently paid late. 'The first time I had concerns was when the first payslip didn't arrive in the first week of March,' the bar worker said. 'The funds for payslip one were never actually paid into my nominated bank account until the 16th of March. 'Pre-COVID, Ussi and Julia both frequented the venue quite often, especially around opening night in February. Ussi was in almost every weekend. 'Every night Ussi was in, he would ask for rounds of shots, which we were directed to charge to the business.  'They were definitely living the lavish lifestyle while in the venue. Post-COVID, I never saw Julia at the venue but Ussi still came in fairly regularly.' A former staff member at the couple's other restaurant Upper East Side shared text messages showing just how employees were allegedly strung along. I just couldn't believe this situation happened in Australia...  Esty Reyes, ex-Upper East Side worker  Esty Reyes was told by Ms Gelonese that her wage would be in her bank balance 'by Friday' - February 21. On several occasions in the weeks that followed, the businesswoman claimed she would send Ms Reyes a 'payslip' by the end of the day.  But when money had not arrived by March 25 - more than a month later - Ms Gelonese finally admitted there was a problem. 'Right now there's no revenue coming in so it's extremely hard to finalise anything at this present time,' her text read. 'As mentioned, I'm waiting for some funds to come in so I can finalise.'   Ms Gelonese next told Ms Reyes the money would be in her bank account by April 6. But it was not until July - five months after she was first due to be paid - that the bank transaction finally went through. By this stage COVID-19 restrictions had forced the lockdown of many businesses and left Ms Reyes out of work and out of money. 'I tried to be patient, but then everything closed and I was trying to survive,' she said. 'I offered (for them) to even only pay me half. They finally paid me five months late at which point I was already in Mexico and only after I raised my voice. 'I just couldn't believe this situation happened in Australia.'  After complaints by several Upper East Side staff members, the Ombudsman began an investigation and found they had likely breached 11 areas of the restaurant award and two of the national employment standards.  When Ms Gelonese did not meet the Fair Work Ombudsman's compliance deadline, the case was taken before the Federal Court. In a statement, Sandra Parker of the Fair Work Ombudsman said that in the wake of major cases of underpayment by celebrity chefs including George Colambaris and Neil Perry, they were 'cracking down' on the hospitality industry. 'Under the Fair Work Act, inspectors can issue a Compliance Notice if they form a belief that an employer has breached certain workplace laws,' Ms Parker said.  'Where employers do not comply with our notices, a court can order them to pay penalties in addition to back-paying any affected employees. 'The Fair Work Ombudsman is cracking down on alleged underpayments in the fast food, restaurant and café sector, particularly when it involves migrant workers.' Wage theft was last week criminalised in Queensland, which followed Victoria's lead from earlier this year, however New South Wales is yet to do the same. Karma Lord, director of Hospo Voice the hospitality arm of the United Workers Union, slammed the restaurant she called an 'Instagram playground for rich and famous'. 'What does it say about the NSW hospitality industry that an employer who doesn't pay its workers at one venue, who has been prosecuted by the Ombudsman for wage theft, can go on to spend millions opening another sumptuous venue?' she said. 'Workers shared with us the horror and anxiety of working in this Instagram playground for the rich and famous, while going months without being paid and having to beg for their wages.' Ms Gelonese claimed that despite the two businesses sharing a registered address, she was only affiliated with Upper East Side - not Meu Jardim. Mr Da Silva has been contacted for comment.  Upper East Side had previously been taken to court for running up massive debts of more than $95,000 to businesses who had provided food, alcohol and services.  The businesses pursing the bar included Roxy Jacenko's prominent PR firm Sweaty Betty, which was owed $10,102. One outstanding bill from a labour hire company was for $36,745 to JRM Hospitality. It was understood JRM was engaged by the bar to employ staff after a number of chefs and other staff walked off the job suddenly in mid-2017.  Ms Gelonese has previously told Daily Mail Australia that all payments to her employees at Upper East Side had now been 'finalised'. In addition to paying her staff, Ms Gelonese claimed the debts owed to a number of businesses had also been settled. The pandemic has caused major disruption for many restaurants and bars, with many unable to open and forced to close because of government lockdowns. Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six... We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our... Horror as $4.5M influencer-laden yacht SINKS off Miami... after glam women made a rookie maritime... 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