A spider monkey has been raising eyebrows among residents of the community of Xoy in the municipality of Peto.
Locals say that they are concerned that the monkey may have strayed out of its thick jungle habitat in search of food.
But there are worries that the primate may fall victim to people who may want to catch it or fall prey to domestic animals.
“Don’t get me wrong, its nice to see him up there, but it would probably be better if he could be captured and returned to his habitat further south,” said a Xoy local, Aaron Ek, in Por Esto.
Residents have been speculating on social media that the primate may have fled its habitat due to the construction of the Mayan Train in the region.
Earlier: Caged spider monkey found living in restaurant-bar’s kitchen
Weighing in at nine kilograms, the Yucatán spider monkey is one of the largest species of New World monkeys. Other than the Yucatán Peninsula, these monkeys can be found in Belize and northern Guatemala.
They are known for being extremely agile and can move great distances by effortlessly jumping from branch to branch.
But despite their speed and dexterity, spider monkeys have been known to be hunted by poachers looking to sell them as pets.
There have also been several recent incidents in which monkeys and other exotic species have been found in attempted smuggling operations at Mérida’s airport.
Keeping monkeys is not illegal, but in most instances, folk keeping them as pets or in private zoos lack the proper permissions and documentation to do so.
