The extreme heat wave in Mexico is not only affecting the environment, it is also wreaking havoc on howler monkeys and causing them to fall dead from trees, the Associated Press reported.
“They fell from the trees like apples. They were in a state of severe dehydration and died within minutes,” wildlife biologist Gilberto Pozo described what he witnessed to the AP.
In the city of Tecolutilla, Tabasco state, dead monkeys reportedly began appearing on Friday, when a local volunteer fire and rescue squad showed up with five of the monkeys in the bed of the truck.
So far, at least 83 howler monkeys have been found dead in the Gulf Coast state of Tabasco. However, many others were rescued by local residents and five of them were rushed to a local veterinarian for immediate care.
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A veterinarian feeds a rescued young howler monkey amid extremely high temperatures in Tecolutilla, Tabasco state, Mexico, on Tuesday. Dozens of howler monkeys were found dead in the Gulf Coast state, while others were rescued by residents who rushed them to a local veterinarian. (AP Photo/Luis Sánchez)
“They arrived in critical condition, with dehydration and fever,” Dr. Sergio Valenzuela told the AP. “They were limp like rags. It was heat stroke.”
At least nine cities in Mexico have set temperature records as of May 9, and Ciudad Victoria, in the border state of Tamaulipas, recorded 117 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the AP. The heat wave has been blamed for the deaths of at least 26 people since March, the AP reported.
Valenzuela said the monkeys seemed to be improving, stating that they were “recovering, were aggressive and biting again.”
The howler monkey, which is “the loudest of all monkeys,” is known for its loud bark or roar, according to National Geographic.
Pozo added that many local residents wanted to help the monkeys, even adopt them, but he warned them about it.
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Howler monkeys sit in a cage at a veterinary clinic after being rescued amid extremely high temperatures in Tecolutilla, Tabasco state, Mexico, on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Luis Sánchez)
“The truth is that babies are very delicate, they cannot be in a house where there are dogs or cats, because they have pathogens that can be potentially fatal for howler monkeys,” Ponzo described, highlighting that they must be rehabilitated and released. the wild
Pozo's group has set up special recovery stations for the monkeys and is working to organize a team of specialized veterinarians to give the monkeys the care they need.
Howler monkeys also get almost all the water they need from the food they eat, another reason why the heat wave has been detrimental to their survival.
Pozo stated that several factors caused the death of the monkeys, including intense heat, drought and forest fires.
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A howler monkey sits inside a cage with others at a veterinary clinic after being rescued amid extremely high temperatures in Tecolutilla, Tabasco state, Mexico, on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Luis Sánchez)
Days after the monkeys began dropping dead, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador acknowledged the problem and said he had found out about it on social media.
He then congratulated Valenzuela for his efforts and said the government would seek to support the work.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
