Life as a monkey may look like a bowl of cherries (or bananas, really): You get to sit around in a tree all day, swing on vines, and maybe beg some scraps off of tourists. It's great.
It's so hot in Mexico that howler monkeys are falling dead from the trees.
At least 138 of the midsize primates, who are known for their roaring vocal calls, were found dead in the Gulf Coast state of Tabasco since May 16, according to the Biodiversity Conservation of The Usumacinta group. Others were rescued by residents, including five that were rushed to a local veterinarian who battled to save them.
It's real and it's rough stuff:
The heat wave "has been linked to the deaths of at least 26 people since March" in addition to possibly hundreds of the monkeys. "Around a third" of the country saw temperatures exceeding 110º Fahrenheit.
One local wildlife biologist said the monkeys are already weakened from the severe drought, and that the high falls from the trees can quickly finish them off.
In cases where locals have responded quickly, the monkeys have been saved:
The veterinarian put ice on their limp little hands and feet, and hooked them up to IV drips with electrolytes.
So far, the monkeys appear to be on the mend. Once listless and easily handled, they are now in cages at Valenzuela's office. 'They're recovering. They're aggressive … they're biting again,' he said, noting that's a healthy sign for the usually furtive creatures.
Thankfully, for those that did not make it, we know they're in a better place:
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