MANAUS, BRAZIL — A woolly monkey (Lagothrix cana), a species classified as vulnerable to extinction, was rescued by the Amazonas Environmental Protection Institute (Ipaam) on Monday (March 30) at kilometer 26 of the BR-174 highway in Manaus, after spending about a month at a rural property in the area, where it had been kept under the caretaker’s provisional care. The animal, a female nicknamed “Chica,” displayed docile behavior and familiarity with humans, raising suspicions that it had previously been kept in captivity.

According to reports, the primate arrived at the property already with a rope tied around its body and, during its stay, was fed a fruit-based diet and remained near the residence. Public reporting to authorities is essential to ensure the safe rescue and proper handling of wild animals, especially in cases involving signs of domestication or the inability to immediately return to the wild, Ipaam said.

After the rescue, the animal was taken to the Wild Animal Screening Center (Cetas), where it is undergoing clinical evaluation and a quarantine period so that, if conditions allow, it can be reintroduced into its natural habitat.

The woolly monkey is a primate native to the Amazon region, with arboreal habits and a diet mainly consisting of fruits, leaves, and seeds. The species plays a key role in seed dispersal, contributing to the regeneration and maintenance of forest ecosystems.

The species faces pressures such as habitat loss and illegal capture for captivity, factors that impact its conservation. Removing these primates from the wild compromises their natural behavior and reduces their chances of survival, in addition to causing environmental imbalance.

Amazon Agency