MEXICO: Authorities in Mexico are investigating the alarming deaths of howler monkeys in the southern states of Chiapas and Tabasco, considering the possibility that extreme heat may be the cause.
According to the environment ministry, potential causes being examined include “heat stroke, dehydration, malnutrition, or fumigation of crops with pesticides.” Studies are also underway to rule out a virus or disease as a factor.
Temperatures in the affected regions have soared up to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), raising concerns about the impact of the heat wave on wildlife. While the government has not specified the number of howler monkeys that have died, the Tabasco-based wildlife preservation group COBIUS has reported “mass deaths.”
COBIUS noted, “It’s very likely due to climatic reasons but we cannot rule out other important causes.” The organization urged locals, “If you see monkeys that are weak and apparently suffering from heat or dehydration, please try to hoist a bucket of water by rope for them to drink.”
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, originally from Tabasco, acknowledged the severe heat as a probable factor in the monkeys’ deaths. “The heat is very strong. Since I’ve been visiting these states I’ve never felt it as much as I do now,” he remarked during a news conference.
In response to the crisis, authorities and conservationists have ramped up patrols to provide water and food, primarily fruits, to help the monkeys stay hydrated. The Tabasco civil protection institute confirmed ongoing efforts to assist the endangered primates amid the harsh climatic conditions.
