Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Federal environmental authorities have rescued a howler monkey that was found tied to a cinder block inside a home in the municipality of Othon P. Blanco, in conditions that violated wildlife protection laws.
Inspectors from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) discovered the monkey, a mantled howler (Alouatta palliata), wearing a harness that was tethered to a concrete block. The animal had no shelter from the sun or rain, and no food or water was visible at the site, according to the agency.
The operation stemmed from a citizen complaint filed in April, reporting that the primate was being kept restrained and in poor physical condition.
During the inspection, the person who had the monkey told authorities that a worker found the animal injured and possibly suffering from mange in a sugarcane field, and brought it to the home to care for it.
Profepa determined that the conditions violated Chapter VI of the General Wildlife Law, which requires dignified and respectful treatment of wild animals. Officials seized the monkey and, with support from the Othon P. Blanco municipal government, transferred it to the Payo Obispo Zoo.
The monkey will remain in temporary custody at the zoo, where it will receive specialized veterinary care while authorities assess its health and determine a permanent placement.
Profepa reminded the public that a Protocol for the Care of Non-Human Primates remains active, establishing response mechanisms for cases involving disoriented, immobile, or at-risk primates. The agency urged citizens to report any situations that endanger wildlife, particularly primates, whose conservation is threatened by habitat loss, disease, and illegal trafficking.
