Profepa launches campaign against illegal primate trafficking in Mexico

Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) has launched the campaign ‘Los Monos No son Mascotas’ (Monkeys are Not Pets) to combat the illegal trade, extraction, and possession of primates. The initiative follows the seizure of 137 spider, howler, and capuchin monkeys over the last seven years.

All three primate species found in Mexico are currently endangered under NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010. These animals, which inhabit regions including Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Oaxaca, play a vital role in maintaining tropical forest ecosystems by dispersing seeds.

Authorities warned that illegal trafficking often involves the violent capture of infants, frequently resulting in the death of adult females. For every monkey sold as a pet, at least three others die during capture or transport. Illegal activities are punishable by up to nine years in prison and significant fines. Cases are referred to the General Prosecutor's Office (FGR) for crimes against biodiversity.