COMALCALCO, Mexico — Threatened howler monkeys have been found dead in significant numbers in Mexico’s southeastern tropical forests recently. The deaths come amid a severe nationwide drought and intense heat waves that have caused temperatures to skyrocket across much of the country.

In the state of Tabasco, where temperatures are expected to exceed 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) this week, local media have reported up to 85 monkey deaths. Local authorities have confirmed the disturbing trend without providing an exact death toll.

Over the weekend, Tabasco’s Civil Protection agency released a statement attributing the deaths to dehydration. On Monday, a source from the agency told Reuters that howler monkeys have been confirmed dead in three municipalities within the state.

In a forest outside Comalcalco, Tabasco, volunteers have been collecting the corpses of mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) that succumbed to the extreme heat. In an effort to prevent further deaths, they have been placing buckets of water and fruit in the area. The mantled howler monkey is classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

The extreme temperatures are unprecedented, as noted by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who is originally from Tabasco. “It is because the heat is so strong. I’ve been visiting the states for a long time, and I have never felt it as much as now,” Lopez Obrador said during a press conference on Monday when asked about the monkey deaths. “So, yes, we have to care for the animals and yes we are going to do it.”

Later that day, Mexico’s environment ministry announced that it is coordinating efforts to address the monkeys' deaths. The ministry suggested several potential causes, including heat stroke, dehydration, malnutrition, or exposure to toxic agro-chemicals sprayed on crops.

Mexico is also home to the Yucatan howler monkey, which is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List due to deforestation. The current environmental crisis only adds to the challenges faced by these vulnerable primates.

The unprecedented heat wave in Mexico has not only impacted wildlife but has also taken a toll on human life. Mexico’s health ministry reported a preliminary count of 26 deaths due to heat-related causes between the start of the country’s heat season on March 17 and May 11.

The situation highlights the broader environmental issues affecting the region, including climate change and habitat destruction. The death of these howler monkeys serves as a grim reminder of the immediate and tangible impacts of extreme weather conditions on both wildlife and human populations.

Local volunteers and authorities continue their efforts to mitigate the situation by providing water and food to the affected wildlife, but the long-term solutions will require concerted efforts to address climate change and environmental degradation. The plight of the howler monkeys in Tabasco underscores the urgent need for sustainable environmental policies and greater protection for vulnerable species in the face of escalating climate crises.