MEXICO - Biodiversity Conservation of Hayati Usumacinta (Cobius) on Wednesday (22/5) said as many as 146 pelong monkeys, or Saraguatos, an endemic endangered species in southern Mexico, have died from extreme temperatures since the record of deaths began earlier this month.
International media reported a death toll of 138.
Since early May, environmental experts and residents of Tabasco and Chiapas areas have reported that the primate, known for its sturdy appearance and distinctive classing sound, fell from trees due to high temperatures and dehydration.
Mexico's Ministry of Environment on May 20 said an investigation would be carried out over the deaths of 80 monkeys.
However, until now, no government official has been able to provide official data on the number of dead monkeys,
Officials have promised to express the official figures and the causes behind this gloomy phenomenon within this week.
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So far, only civil associations such as Cobius have tried to document the deaths and implemented a rescue and support strategy for the species, which is declared endangered in 2022.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who is a native of Tobasco, ordered the interior minister to start taking steps to support the species which is also native to his hometown.
Mexico is experiencing its third consecutive heat wave in 2024. Temperatures have risen to more than 45C in some areas of the country, such as Tabasco and Chiapas.
So far, 26 people have reportedly died from high temperatures.
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