Morelia Zoo rescues abused spider monkey from illegal trade

The Zoológico de Morelia received a male spider monkey infant that had been kept in extreme neglect in a house in the municipality of Pajacuarán, Michoacán. The animal was seized during an operation led by the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) together with the state civil guard, the Specialized Investigation Sub‑secretariat and the Michoacán State Attorney General.

Veterinarians at the zoo are providing intensive care for the severely malnourished, dehydrated and wound‑covered primate. The monkey suffers critical body condition, extensive skin lesions, blood‑laden diarrhea and widespread dental decay caused by prolonged abandonment and inadequate feeding. The zoo will keep the animal under protection while environmental authorities determine its legal status. Zoo director Julio César Medina Ávila warned that each illicitly sold monkey often represents the death of at least ten others and urged the public not to purchase wildlife as pets.

The case highlights the broader problem of illegal wildlife trafficking in Mexico and the cruelty associated with the domestic pet trade.