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MEXICO CITY (AP) — The number of heat-related howler monkeys deaths in Mexico has risen to 157
with a tragically small number of the primates treated or recovering
an animal park in northern Mexico confirmed it has received reports that at least a hundred parrots
A heat dome — an area of strong high pressure centered over the southern Gulf of Mexico and northern Central America — has blocked clouds from forming and caused extensive sunshine and hot temperatures all across Mexico
environmentalists had reported that 138 of the midsize primates
had been found dead in the Gulf coast state of Tabasco since May 16
Almost two-thirds of the country are expected to see highs of 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday
Late Sunday the Environment Department reported that number had risen to 157
and that research was continuing into the causes of the deaths
Wildlife biologist Gilberto Pozo attributed the deaths to a heat stroke
noting a “synergy” of factors — including high heat
forest fires and logging that deprives the monkeys of water
shade and the fruit they eat — appeared to be to blame
disease or other factor can’t yet be ruled out
The department said deaths were occurring in both Tabasco and the neighboring state of Chiapas
and that 13 monkeys were under treatment and seven had been treated and released back into their habitat
The department said some of the monkeys were being treated for dehydration
and that three were in serious but stable condition
and deforestation hitting the trees where the howler monkeys live
it was unclear whether even releasing them could ensure their survival
A volunteer carries a kennel to transport a Saraguato monkey (Alouatta palliata) rescued from the jungle after dozens of deaths were reported in Cunduacan
told The Associated Press on Monday that her facility has been overwhelmed as parrots
Buenfil said when the heat wave began in mid-May their clinic to help animals quickly filled up with sick birds and they received a wave of reports by locals finding dead or suffering birds
Because of scarce resources by authorities
Buenfil said the number is likely only a small percentage of the animals affected
but added that their organization has worked with Civil Protection to aid some birds
Buenfil said birds mainly die of dehydration in the heat
and are often disproportionately affected because they don’t have anywhere to store water
bats would become dehydrated sleeping in the beating afternoon heat
She recommended that locals put out bowls of water for animals
“We’ve never seen a situation like what’s happening right now,” she said
adding if they see more heat peaks like this one “there is not going to be much we can do for the animals.”
“There are going to be a lot of casualties to the ecosystem if we continue this trend of heat waves in the region,” said Buenfil
howler monkeys are muscular and some can be as tall as 90 centimeters (3 feet)
Some males weigh more than 13.5 kilograms (30 pounds) and can live up to 20 years
They are equipped with big jaws and a fearsome set of teeth and fangs
But mostly they’re know for their lion-like roars
With below-average rainfall throughout almost all the country so far this year
Authorities have had to truck in water for everything from hospitals to fire-fighting teams
Low levels at hydroelectric dams have contributed to power blackouts in some parts of the country
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Twelve of 17 municipalities in Tabasco have been flooded this week after a cold front brought heavy rain to the Gulf coast state
where Pemex’s new refinery is located
and Teapa are the two worst affected municipalities
The other 10 municipalities where flooding has been reported are Centro (Villahermosa)
Civil Protection authorities reported Thursday that over 500 homes had been flooded and that some 300 residents in 87 communities had to evacuate
👥 #BoletínInformativo II Con apoyo de las Fuerzas Armadas, atiende Gobierno de Tabasco municipios afectados por lluvias.https://t.co/qdWugP6rl4 pic.twitter.com/isz5WUxpcy
— Protección Civil Tab (@ProcivilTabasco) October 20, 2022
a banana-growing municipality that borders Chiapas
hundreds of hectares of land have been flooded
The Teapa-Villahemosa highway was also flooded after the De La Sierra River overflowed
navy and National Guard helped scores of people evacuate their homes
In Paraíso, 80% of the territory is underwater, according to Mayor Ana Luis Castellanos, who said that deficiencies in the construction of the Olmeca Refinery were to blame
She said that many of the water channels in the area were filled in with earth and sand that had been removed from the refinery site during construction
and excess rainwater was unable to flow into them as a result
the municipal palace and the local market are all flooded
“… They filled the regulating reservoirs too much … and the problem we have now [is due to that],” she said
“… The majority of people [in Paraíso] are [living] in water because they don’t want to leave so they don’t lose their belongings
their things,” the Democratic Revolution Party mayor said
“[But] the truth is that people’s things have been damaged because they didn’t have time to raise things – their beds
“… We’re going to try to open up the water channels
we’re already working [to receive people] in shelters
we have to look after people’s health,” Castellanos said
Flooding has long been a problem in Paraíso (and other parts of Tabasco)
but the mayor and many residents believe that the construction of the refinery – which was officially opened in July although its not yet refining oil – has made the area more vulnerable to the phenomenon
But some other residents say that a substandard drainage system — rather than the filling in of the water channels — is the main cause of flooding in Paraíso
Hay medios de comunicación que escandalizan sobre la inundación de Paraíso, Tabasco y de la refinería de Dos Bocas (se anega cuando llueve parte del centro y el mercado). Compartimos imágenes de esta mañana de Paraíso y la refinería donde no se ve las inundaciones como se dice. pic.twitter.com/k5rgInOh2I
— Jesús Ramírez Cuevas (@JesusRCuevas) October 21, 2022
“The mayor says that it’s due to the filling in [of the channels] … but … there isn’t a good drainage system,” José Aguilar told the Reforma newspaper
a resident of the neighboring municipality of Comalcalco
also blamed an inadequate drainage system for the flooding there
I’m from Comalcalco and we’re all underwater
the drains can’t keep up,” she wrote on social media
President López Obrador’s communications coordinator
asserted that claims about flooding at the refinery were false or exaggerated
“There are media outlets that are making a scene about the flooding of Paraíso
and the … refinery,” he wrote on Twitter Friday
“… [Here are] images from this morning in Paraíso and the refinery
where the flooding they’re talking about is not seen,” Ramírez Cuevas added above four photos of the town and refinery
With reports from Reforma and Proceso
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Conservation groups in Mexico are concerned about local monkey populations as some have been seen falling out of trees due to extreme heat and dehydration
Cunduacán, Mexico - Scientists and conservation groups in the south of Mexico are concerned that monkey populations could be at risk due to extreme heat and wildfires
people in and around the south Mexican town of Cunduacán have found groups of mantled howler monkeys dead beneath trees
local authorities have recorded 85 monkey deaths in the state of Tabasco
After biologist Gilberto Pozo witnessed two monkeys fall from a tree in front of him
the first assumption was that local wildfires had caused the monkeys to die from smoke inhalation
as more monkeys were reported dead over the course of the next few weeks
it became obvious that heatwaves with temperatures of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit were the more likely cause
Per the New York Times
Pozo said that the monkey deaths were likely caused by extreme temperatures
adding: "The animals are sending us a warning
because they are sentinels of the ecosystem..
The state's Civil Protection agency later confirmed the cause of death as dehydration. Mexico's president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, also commented on the issue in a press conference
"I've been visiting the states for a long time and I have never felt it as much as now..
Considered a vulnerable species under the IUCN and endangered in Mexico
howler monkeys are threatened by a toxic combination of extreme heat and other human-related factors
More on Environment and Climate: