Howler monkeys drop dead, fall from trees in extreme Mexico heat wave

Mexico is in the grips of a heat wave, with temperatures soaring over 45 C in some parts of the country.

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Howler monkeys, already a threatened species, are dropping dead and falling from the trees in Mexico, likely due to the extreme heat.

It’s difficult to say exactly how many monkeys have died in the country’s southeast tropical rainforests, but local media report that as many as 85 monkeys have died so far, as temperatures soar upwards of 45 C.

Officials with the Environment Ministry say they are investigating a number of potential causes that are killing the mid-size primates, including “heat stroke, dehydration, malnutrition or fumigation of crops with pesticides.”

They also said they’ll conduct studies to rule out diseases or viruses.

The deaths have been recorded in the southern states of Chiapas and Tabasco, and wildlife preservation groups are pretty sure the monkeys are dying off due to the extreme heat, but “cannot rule out other important causes.”

One such group, COBIUS, has been working to help howler monkey populations in the Tabasco area and detailing its efforts on its Facebook page.

“If you see monkeys that are weak and apparently suffering from heat or dehydration, please try to hoist a bucket of water by rope for them to drink,” it asked the public in one post earlier this week.