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Over 200 howler monkeys in Mexico perish in heatwave, states NGO

A minimum of 234 threatened howler monkeys have died in tropical forests in the southeastern Mexican state of Tabasco, wildlife not-for-profit Cobius said on Monday, a figure nearly triple that of a month ago which it credited to an across the country heatwave.

The over 200 death toll represents only the areas that the Mexican wildlife conservation group had the ability to study, and the group stated the actual figure should be higher.

Regional media had in May reported at least 85 howler monkey deaths, as temperature levels went beyond 45C (113 ° F) in the middle of an extended drought that has drained pipes the country's reservoirs, only now starting to be replenished by the start of the rainy season.

Though rains have now begun across the nation, Cobius stated in a statement released on social networks this will not resolve the emergency, but only supply a long time to undertake real conservation action.

While Tabasco state has actually faced constant high temperatures, Cobius said howler monkey populations were also experiencing hunting, extreme logging, environment deterioration, competitors for space and new illness passed on by humans and domestic animals.

These elements, in synergy with the greater temperature levels, cause heat stress which causes acute inflammation and above all adds to an absolutely inefficient immune system action, Cobius added.

It said some monkeys it studied experienced pulmonary edema, or wet lung, after breathing in smoke from forest fires.

The mantled howler monkey, residing in Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Ecuador, is categorized as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature

(source: Reuters)