Mexico heatwave: Several howler monkeys drop dead, authorities investigate

NEW DELHI: Howler monkeys are dying in Mexico reportedly due to extreme heat in the region.

The environment ministry said that they are considering "heat stroke, dehydration, malnutrition, or fumigation of crops with pesticides" as potential reasons for the deaths. Studies will be conducted to rule out any viruses or diseases, according to an AFP report.

Temperatures have soared up to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in the southern states of Chiapas and Tabasco, where the fatalities have been reported. Although the government has not specified the number of deceased primates, the Tabasco-based wildlife preservation group COBIUS has reported "mass deaths."

Monkeys have been confirmed dead in three municipalities within the state, reported Reuters quoting Tabasco civil protection sources.

In a statement, COBIUS noted, "It's very likely due to climatic reasons, but we cannot rule out other important causes." They advised locals, "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."

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a native of Tabasco, also backed the theory that extreme heat is the probable cause. "The heat is very strong. Since I've been visiting these states, I've never felt it as much as I do now," he mentioned in a news conference.

In response, authorities and conservationists are conducting patrols to provide water and food, primarily fruits, to help the monkeys stay hydrated, according to the Tabasco civil protection institute.