Spider Monkey Sparks Alert in Yucatán Community

Residents of the Xpanhatoro municipality have publicly denounced the presence of an aggressive spider monkey that has invaded the community center for over a year, generating fear among the population.

Neighbors claim the animal attacks both people and dogs, expressing concern that it could injure a child playing in public spaces.

According to testimonies, the monkey comes from the high forest area of Xpanhatoro and frequently moves toward the main plaza and inhabited areas. “No one can approach the site where it is because it throws stones or chases people aggressively, as if it were a person,” neighbors stated.

The impact of the spider monkey on domestic animals has also been significant. Since its appearance, small dogs have been attacked or killed, while larger specimens have also suffered aggression before the primate takes refuge in tree branches, out of reach of dogs and residents.

Additionally, attacks on people have been recorded, primarily targeting women traveling through the community for shopping or errands, increasing concern about children’s safety. Neighbors fear the animal could appear unexpectedly in parks or playgrounds and injure a child.

The population is divided regarding the spider monkey: while some seek to protect it as part of the local fauna, others see it as a threat that limits children’s freedom and creates risks for their pets.

Therefore, residents of Xpanhatoro have requested intervention from specialized authorities, such as the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa), to capture the animal. The idea is to relocate it to an area farther from the population or to a center where it can receive necessary care and feeding, ensuring both community safety and the monkey’s preservation.

Neighbors hope that, with environmental authorities’ intervention, the situation can be resolved without endangering children, adults, and domestic animals, while protecting local fauna that, although part of the ecosystem, should not represent a danger to the population.