The Oakland Zoo's rescue of Azules, a young spider monkey, highlights the dangers of wildlife trafficking and illegal primate ownership. (Oakland Zoo)
- Oakland Zoo rescues Azules, a malnourished Mexican spider monkey, shedding light on illegal wildlife trafficking's impact on primates.
- Azules, recovering at the zoo, highlights dangers of primate ownership, as private care fails their complex needs.
- Support Oakland Zoo's rescue efforts by visiting their website to contribute to saving animals like Azules.
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The Oakland Zoo has named its newest rescue, a young spider monkey, Azules — pronounced Ah-Soo-les — after the Montes Azules Biosphere Preserve in Chiapas, Mexico.
“She is following a healthy diet recommended by her nutritionist, and her organ function is good. However, her protein and calcium levels are low, which is expected because she’s been malnourished.” — Dr. Alex Herman, VP Veterinary Services, Oakland Zoo
The preserve is a vital rainforest habitat and home to the Mexican spider monkey.
“Azules is bright, alert, and active.  She is still thin and has muscle loss, which will take time to correct. Her upper respiratory infection is now resolved. She is following a healthy diet recommended by her nutritionist, and her organ function is good. However, her protein and calcium levels are low, which is expected because she’s been malnourished,” said Dr. Alex Herman, the zoo’s VP of Veterinary Services.
Related Story: Madera DUI Arrest Leads to Spider Monkey Rescue. She Is Now in Oakland Zoo
Updates on Azules
On New Year’s Eve, the CHP announced that officers made a DUI stop of a Rolls Royce Ghost in Madera, where they uncovered and seized Azules who was then moved to the Oakland Zoo.
Estimated to be five to six months old, Azules is recovering at the Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital.
She is not accessible to the public, even during hospital tours, as she continues to receive specialized care.
Zoo officials are working with the Wildlife Confiscations Network and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan to find Azules a permanent home within a suitable social group at a participant institution.
The zoo has not disclosed the location to protect ongoing legal investigations into wildlife trafficking.
Related Story: Madera DUI Arrest Uncovers Spider Monkey in Rolls Royce
Rescue Shows Dangers of Illegal Pet Ownership
The rescue highlights the dangers of the illegal primate trade. Although owning primates is illegal in California, an underground network persists across the United States.
Experts warn that primates make unsuitable pets, as private ownership cannot meet their complex physical and emotional needs, Oakland Zoo officials said.
Infant primates like Azules often face grim outcomes in the pet trade, with many dying before their first birthday due to poaching, inhumane transport, and inadequate care. In many cases, mothers and other troop members are killed during the capture process.
Azules’ story sheds light on the urgent need for wildlife protection and the devastating impact of illegal trafficking on primates and their ecosystems.
Support the Oakland Zoo’s Rescue Work
To support the Oakland Zoo and its mission to rescue animals like Azules, visit the website.
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