HATTIESBURG – Four juvenile spider monkeys are now calling the Hattiesburg Zoo home after being confiscated in an illegal pet trade smuggling attempt, according to zoo officials.
The monkeys were discovered by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services at the Mexico-United States border, where they had been hidden inside lunch boxes. The animals were confiscated under the Lacey Act, a federal law that prohibits the import, export, transport, sale or purchase of wildlife taken in violation of federal, state, tribal or foreign laws.
The Hattiesburg Zoo said it was contacted by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Wildlife Trafficking Alliance and the Species Survival Program and was asked to permanently house and care for the primates.
“The pet trade is very dangerous and often results in the death of the mothers of the primates, which are purposefully or accidentally killed by traffickers attempting to separate and capture their babies,” said Kristen Moore, director of wildlife for the Hattiesburg Zoo. Moore said more than 2,000 primates are attempted to be smuggled into the United States each year.
Moore said spider monkeys live in large social groups and form strong family bonds that cannot be replicated in a residential setting. She added that the animals require specialized diets, habitats and care.
Spider monkeys are native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, ranging from southern Mexico to Brazil. In the wild, they live high in the rainforest canopy and primarily eat fruit, along with leaves, flowers and insects.
Jeremy Cumpton, the zoo’s director of conservation and education, said educating guests about the dangers of the illegal pet trade is part of the zoo’s mission.
“While we are sad about how these monkeys came to call the Hattiesburg Zoo home, we are happy that our animal care and veterinary teams will be able to care for them,” Cumpton said.
The four juveniles, two males and two females, completed a quarantine period and are now being introduced to their outdoor habitat alongside Rico, a senior adult male spider monkey who has lived at the zoo for several years.
