Germana Carillo Heat stroke and dehydration caused by record temperatures in Mexico have likely caused the deaths of nearly 140 howler monkeys in the country's forests. Authorities are now distributing buckets of water and fruit to help them survive
Southern Mexico is currently experiencing a catastrophic event due to extreme heat and drought conditions. As temperatures soar, the country’s tropical forests are witnessing a tragic phenomenon: howler monkeys, iconic inhabitants of the region, are falling dead from the trees.
According to estimates from the Biodiversity Conservation Usumacinta, at least 138 medium-sized primates have been found dead in the state of Tabasco, along the Gulf Coast, since May 16. Many of them are still being rescued by local people, but are in critical condition with fever and dehydration.
The mantled howler monkeys are classified as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
The state of Tabasco, in particular, has been hit by temperatures of 104°F, while about a third of the entire country has seen temperatures rise to as high as 113°F.
