Environmental authorities of the Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley, in Medellín (Colombia), rescued a **spider monkey**. The primate was **illegally kept as a pet**.
The specimen, a **young male**, was taken to the Center for Care, Valorization, and Rehabilitation (CAVR), where specialists confirmed **anxiety, physical deterioration, and signs of abnormal tameness**.
Additionally, he presented:
– Injury to a fang, possibly due to a diet high in sugar.
– Dry skin.
– Absence of natural vocalizations, key to its communication.
## Impact of illegal capture on its conservation
The **environmental sub-director of the Metropolitan Area**, **Alejandro Vásquez Campuzano**, stated that the spider monkey **does not belong to the metropolitan territory** and that its presence confirms the **impact of wildlife trafficking in Colombia**.
This species is considered **vulnerable in Colombia**. It is in **critical danger of extinction** according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
## A key primate for the ecosystem
The **spider monkey**, one of the **largest primates in America**, is:
– **Diurnal and arboreal**, adapted to tree life.
– **Essential in seed dispersal**, contributing to the **regeneration of tropical forests**.
However, **indiscriminate capture** and the **expansion of deforestation** seriously threaten its **survival**.
## Why is it called a spider monkey?
Its arms and legs are **strong and long**, while its head is small in relation to its body, hence the name **spider monkey**.
Its tail, being very long and calloused at the tip, is useful for hanging from branches and moving through the **surrounding vegetation**.
## Worrisome background in rescues
Over the past **decade**, the **CAVR** has received **20 specimens** of this species.
*”Turning a spider monkey into a pet is to strip it of its nature and endanger its survival,”* emphasized the authorities.
*Cover photo: EFE*
