Akumal Monkey Sanctuary Visitor Numbers Drop 50%

Akumal, Quintana Roo — Monthly attendance at the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary has dropped from between 4,000 and 4,500 visitors to roughly 1,500 this year, a decline of more than 50%, according to Carlos Antonio Mimenza Novelo, a businessman linked to the facility.

The falloff is straining the sanctuary’s operations. The site houses about 250 animals and depends partly on visitor income to cover food, veterinary care and other expenses, Mimenza said.

“The sanctuary is going through a tough time; we have more than 250 rescued animals,” he said.

The animal population includes several primate species, as well as zebras, macaws and parrots, some of which were referred by environmental authorities following rescues.

Mimenza said the decline was felt most sharply in July and August, and that September and October are shaping up to be difficult as well because of the seasonal drop in tourism.

To offset the loss, the sanctuary has begun targeting its outreach at Quintana Roo residents.

The facility also runs environmental education activities with students from public and private schools and hosts university students from across Mexico who carry out internships related to biology and veterinary medicine.

More than 100 people, including staff and students, are involved in the project, Mimenza said. The sanctuary has maintained its workforce so far, but he acknowledged that its ability to do so will depend on attendance levels in the coming months.

“We’re keeping the staff, but we don’t know how much longer we can maintain the entire team,” he said.

He said the outlook for September and October remains complicated, so the sanctuary will work to increase participation from the local market while continuing to care for the animals in its custody.