Rescued baby spider monkey in Madera County highlights exotic pet risks

MADERA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A baby spider monkey named Azules is being cared for at the Oakland Zoo after being rescued in Madera and officials hope her story can raise awareness of the dangers of owning these exotic animals.

Madera California Highway Patrol pulled over 27-year-old Mused Adel Mohamed Ali for driving under the influence and transporting marijuana for sale last month.

But finding a baby spider monkey in the car, was bananas. 

“She has low calcium levels, very abnormal skin. You can tell from her pictures she’s lost a lot of hair. And through our extensive medical workup, really, it’s all from malnutrition,” VP of Veterinary Services Dr. Alex Herman said.

The Madera County Animal Shelter took Azules in that night and was transferred to the Oakland Zoo for treatment.

“Despite her very rough start, she’s doing very well,” Herman said.

Herman said she came to them with an upper respiratory infection but is doing better.

“Behaviorally, emotionally, mentally, she’s doing okay. But she is an isolated spider monkey and their natural behavior, what they evolve to do is live in a group,” Herman said.

Herman says owning spider monkeys is illegal in California and they are highly endangered. 

“Legal or not legal, you know, killing an animal’s family to harvest them for the wild and devastated. It’s crashing, you know, the wild population,” Herman said.

Herman said there is a current surge in spider monkey trafficking.

“Unfortunately, she is not the first I’ve ever seen and probably won’t be the last,” Herman said.

But she says Azules is a textbook example for what happens when wild animals are exposed to poor care.

“Hopefully telling her story will educate people so they don’t inadvertently support this industry,” Herman said.

Dr. Herman said she is very social and finding her a group that supports her mental health after being taken from her family in the wild is the best option.