Spider monkey rescued from church-home in Colima; authorities urge reporting of illegal wildlife ownership

Environmental authorities have rescued a spider monkey that was being kept as a pet in a property functioning as a church in Manzanillo, Colima. The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) identified the primate during an inspection.

The spider monkey was found to be in "apparent good condition." Following the rescue, the animal was transferred to a Wildlife Conservation Management Unit (UMA) to ensure it receives necessary medical attention and ongoing care. Profepa did not provide further details regarding the monkey's specific condition at the time of the report.

Profepa emphasized that monkeys are not pets and urged citizens to report any instances of illegal ownership of such species. The agency provided a hotline number (800 776 3372), an email address (denuncias@profepa.gob.mx), and a web link for reporting purposes.

The spider monkey is listed as an endangered species in Mexico under the Official Mexican Standard NOM 059 Semarnat 2010. Its populations have declined due to illegal trafficking and habitat loss. Profepa also noted that three primate populations exist in Mexico: the spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), the mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata), and the black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra), primarily found in the states of Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo. This rescue follows a similar incident in late July where a spider monkey infant was secured in the same state after its owners surrendered it to local Civil Protection.

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Monkeys are not pets.