Brown howler monkeys are experiencing a devastating die-off in southern Mexico, with at least 138 reported deaths between May 4 and May 21. The fatalities have been linked to soaring temperatures, which have exceeded 109 degrees in affected areas.
Before their deaths, the monkeys exhibited symptoms such as convulsions, hyperthermia, and fainting, all indicative of severe dehydration. Responding organizations believe heat stroke is the primary cause but have not ruled out other contributing factors. These deaths have been reported across the state of Tabasco.
Gilberto Pozo, a wildlife biologist at the Institute of Ecology in Xalapa, described the situation as painful and disheartening. “It hurts because all the [conservation] efforts we have been making for years are going down the drain,” Mr. Pozo said, according to a report in Wired.
Brown howler monkeys, which are native to the southern states of Mexico, are currently listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Their population has been declining.
In early May, a Cobius team visited a group of howler monkeys in Cunduacan, Tabasco, as part of a rescue and translocation program. This area has undergone significant changes in recent years, endangering the local monkey population.
During their visit, the team witnessed two monkeys fall from 50-foot trees. Despite efforts to save them, both monkeys died, displaying clear signs of dehydration. In response, locals provided the primates with aerial drinkers and tropical fruits.
Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources is investigating the deaths and initial necropsies have been performed, but comprehensive molecular analyses are still pending.
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