[REVISION HISTORY]

Latin American illegal wildlife trade (August 2026)

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-09 16:59 UTC → 2026-08-14 02:52 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Latin American illegal wildlife trade ~~(July~~ (August 2026)

The coordinated crackdown on wildlife trafficking continued across the region in late July 2026. In Mexico, authorities seized two infant spider monkeys that had been kept as pets and were suffering severe neglect. One male infant was taken to the Zoológico de Morelia in Michoacán, where veterinarians are providing intensive care for its critical condition, including severe malnutrition, dehydration, skin lesions and dental decay. The rescue resulted from a joint operation led by the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa), the state civil guard and the Michoacán State Attorney General. Zoo officials warned that each illegally sold monkey may represent the death of at least ten others. In early August, a separate operation in Pajacuarán, Michoacán, involving the National Guard and Profepa, led to the rescue of another malnourished spider monkey found in a small birdcage under unhygienic conditions. One individual was detained during this raid. The animal was also transferred to the Benito Juárez Zoo in Morelia for specialized treatment. The zoo reported that it has received 478 rescued or seized animals since October 2021, with 197 arrivals recorded so far this year. By mid-August, medical specialists at the Morelia Zoo reported that the spider monkey rescued in Pajacuarán is showing signs of progress. Although still in critical condition, the primate has begun eating on its own and spending time in the sun. The ongoing care plan includes dental assessments and nutritional monitoring. In Costa Rica, police again acted on a citizen tip in Agua Buena, Coto Brus, detaining a suspect who was transporting a critically endangered squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedii) in a backpack. ~~The primate was placed under veterinary care for rehabilitation, mirroring the earlier rescue reported on 21 July.~~ Ecuadorian environmental police reported the rescue of four wild animals in the provinces of Azuay and Cañar, though details were not disclosed. ~~These actions reinforce the multi-country effort to dismantle illegal pet-trade networks, protect endangered primates, and address broader cruelty toward wildlife throughout Latin America.~~

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