Mexican authorities announced on May 20 that they were investigating whether extreme heat was the cause of the deaths of endangered howler monkeys.
Mexico’s Environment Ministry is considering possible causes of howler monkeys dying in large numbers recently, including heat stroke, dehydration, malnutrition or fumigation (a method used to treat pests). They also conduct research to rule out epidemic or viral causes, according to AFP.
Temperatures reached 45 degrees Celsius in southern Mexican states such as Chiapas and Tabasco, where deaths of howler monkeys have been recorded. While the government did not disclose the number of monkey deaths, wildlife conservation organization COBIUS in Tabasco said howler monkeys died en masse. Local media said the number of dead monkeys was 85. “There is a high possibility that it is due to environmental reasons, but we cannot rule out other causes yet. If you come across a monkey that is sick, suffering from heatstroke or dehydration, please give them a bucket of water to drink,” a spokesperson for the zoo said. COBIUS organization shares.
In a forest on the outskirts of Camalcalco, Tabasco, volunteers collect the bodies of black howler monkeys that died from high temperatures. Currently, local authorities and conservation experts are conducting patrols to provide water and food, mainly fruit, to help the monkeys dehydrate, according to the Tabasco Civil Protection Institute.
Howler monkeys are native animals to Central America and South America. They are famous for their loud roar, which can be heard from a distance of 4 – 5 km through the jungle. Howler monkeys range in size from 56 to 92 cm, and have a keen sense of smell that helps them sniff food from 2 km away. This species of monkey lives in groups of 6 – 15, specializing in eating leaves, fruits, seeds, and flowers. Sometimes they also break into bird nests to eat eggs.