Howler Monkey Mauled
An adult male howler monkey is clinging to life after it was badly beaten up by humans - allegedly high school students - in Orange Walk.
According to Wildlife Officer Rasheda Garcia at the Forestry Department, they received a report on Wednesday morning that the howler had been savagely beaten on the grounds of the Belize High School of Agriculture in Orange Walk the day before. According to the report, a teacher had told some boys at the school to kill the monkey because it had defecated on him while he was sleeping in the bushes.
The report said that in the afternoon the students brought down the monkey with a slingshot, then beat it with tree limbs, tied up its hands and feet and dragged it unto the school grounds.
Again, this is just the report that was posted on the net, it could not be confirmed by us or by the Forestry Department which is investigating.
But, the monkey was on the school grounds, badly injured and barely alive. A teacher rescued it and took it home to try and save it - which is when the Forestry Department got the report, and took it from the teacher's house to a vet in Belize City. According to Garcia, the monkey is in a quote, "really, really bad condition."
One of its eyes are severely damaged and it will likely lose that eye. It also has a broken tooth and a busted lip, but fortunately no broken bones. More worryingly it also has head trauma and has been experiencing seizures. It has to be spoon-fed as it cannot nourish itself.
Garcia says her department is intent on finding out who is responsible and bringing criminal charges for illegal hunting - which includes molesting protected animals. Howler and spider monkeys are listed as endangered species in Belize.
And while that it the plan, so far the Forestry Department has not been able to confirm that story or identify the culprits.
Channel 7
Endangered Howler Monkey Found Badly Beaten Behind School Campus
Belize has a diverse ecosystem of wildlife and natural resources. Some of the most exotic animals that inhabit Belize are great tourist attractions and this morning, our newsroom received a report of a Howler Monkey that appears to have been severely injured. The male howler monkey was rescued yesterday in Orange Walk by the Forestry Department of Belmopan. Our news room has learnt that a male howler monkey was found severely injured two days ago behind the compound of the Belize High School of Agriculture. Whether or not the howler monkey was found injured or if it was harmed when it was found are questions that have not been answered. When we contacted the school this afternoon we were told that they have no comments on the matter as it is being investigated by the Forestry Department in Belmopan. We then called the Forestry office in Belmopan and the response was the same; no comment.
Reliable information by credible sources to our newsroom indicates that after the monkey was found by a student, the Forestry Department was called in. Officials from the department arrived yesterday evening accompanied by a veterinarian who treated the adult male howler monkey. We were also informed that the injuries on the monkey are life threatening and officials believe that he might not survive. However, we were not told what type of injuries the monkey has. We understand that the Forestry Department should complete their investigation by next week after which they will reveal their findings.
CTV3