(TheRedAlertNews.com) – In the Gulf coast state of Tabasco, Mexico, a distressing discovery was made involving at least 83 howler monkeys, a species known for their loud vocalizations.
These midsize primates were found dead, victims of the region’s intense heat.
In a fortunate turn, some of the monkeys were saved by local residents, with five being urgently transported to a veterinarian committed to their recovery.
“They arrived in critical condition, with dehydration and fever,” Dr. Sergio Valenzuela explained.
“They were as limp as rags. It was heatstroke,” he added.
This recent heatwave in Mexico has already been connected to the deaths of at least 26 humans since March, and it is suspected to have claimed the lives of numerous howler monkeys, potentially reaching into the hundreds.
In Tecolutilla, a town within Tabasco, the situation grew grim when dead monkeys began to surface last Friday.
A local volunteer fire-and-rescue team arrived with five of the animals in the back of their truck. Dr. Valenzuela administered immediate care, applying ice to their limp extremities and initiating IV drips.
Remarkably, these monkeys are showing signs of improvement. Previously lethargic and docile, they now inhabit cages at Dr. Valenzuela’s office, displaying renewed vigor.
“They’re recovering. They’re aggressive … they’re biting again,” he reported, indicating a return to their natural behaviors.
However, many monkeys have not been as fortunate. Wildlife biologist Gilberto Pozo observed approximately 83 monkeys either deceased or dying beneath trees. The significant fatalities began around May 5 and escalated through the weekend.
“They were falling out of the trees like apples They were in a state of severe dehydration, and they died within a matter of minutes,” Pozo remarked.
He added that the injuries sustained from falling significant heights compounded their fragile state, often leading to death.
Pozo identified a combination of extreme conditions contributing to these deaths: elevated temperatures, drought, wildfires, and deforestation, all of which strip the monkeys of essential resources like water, shade, and food.
“This is a sentinel species,” Pozo stated, highlighting their role as indicators of environmental health akin to the proverbial canary in a coal mine. “It is telling us something about what is happening with climate change.”
To address this crisis, Pozo’s team has established recovery stations specifically for the affected monkeys.
By May 9, record-breaking temperatures were recorded in at least nine Mexican cities, including a scorching 117°F (47°C) in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas.
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