Mexico Is So Hot, Monkeys Are Falling to Their Death From Trees
May 29, 2024
auto_awesome
Authorities and conservation groups are investigating the deaths of howler monkeys in Tabasco due to extreme heat and land-use change. Conservation efforts and tragic incidents impacting Brown-Heller monkeys in Southern Mexico are discussed. The investigation into the dead monkeys in Tabasco and the impact of climate and habitat changes on the primates are highlighted.
Climate change-induced extreme heat in Tabasco threatens Brown-Howler monkeys, leading to dehydration and death.
Land use changes, like cacao farming, fragment the monkey's habitat and expose them to high temperatures, impacting their survival.
Deep dives
Threat to Brown-Howler Monkeys from Extreme Heat and Habitat Loss
The increased temperatures in Tabasco, Mexico, have led to the tragic deaths of Brown-Howler monkeys, with at least 138 reported deaths due to symptoms of heat stroke such as convulsions, hyperthermia, and dehydration. The vulnerable species is native to southern Mexico and listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Conservationists like Gilberto Pozo are witnessing the devastating impact of the climate change-induced catastrophe on the species, whose habitat has been threatened by land use changes and extreme heat, causing dehydration and death.
Effects of Climate Change and Land Use on Monkey Habitat and Adaptation Challenges
The high temperatures, exceeding 43 degrees Celsius or 109 degrees Fahrenheit, in Tabasco, Mexico, have drastically affected the habitat and diet of Brown-Howler monkeys, leading to dehydration and fatalities. Researchers like Bertha Valenzuela highlight the impact of landscape modifications for agriculture, such as cacao farming, in fragmenting the monkey's habitat and disrupting temperature regulation. The loss of forest canopy due to land use changes has significantly contributed to the monkeys' exposure to high temperatures, exacerbating the effects of global heating and climate change on their survival.
Authorities and conservation groups are investigating the deaths of dozens of howler monkeys in Tabasco, where extreme heat and land-use change appear to be threatening the vulnerable species.