Around 8 p.m. on December 30, California Highway Patrol drawn over a driver for speeding his Rolls Royce Ghost on Highway 99. According to a Facebook post from CHP Madera Countythe driver was “found to be intoxicated and arrested for driving under the influence.” Authorities found an unexpected passenger inside the luxury car worth about $400,000.
“The driver had a baby monkey attached – or clamped – to his body,” said CHP Officer Sergio Moreno told local news outlet KSEE on Tuesday. “That’s something you don’t see every day.”
More specifically, the primate was a month-old spider monkey in a onesie. Although the exact species is not clear (the genus includes seven types), they all are considered endangered or critically endangered. Aside from their conservation status, it is illegal to own the exotic animal in several states in the US.
“We absolutely cannot have that here in California,” added Amy Toler, director of Madera County Animal Services.
Spider monkeys are native to the upper layers and canopies of Central and South American rainforests. They are some of the largest monkeys known to exist in the Americas, with males of the black-faced spider monkey weighing as much as 24 pounds. Their common name is derived from their prehensile tails, some up to a meter long, which the animals use together with their disproportionately lanky limbs to grasp branches and other objects. Although they live in groups of up to 35 individuals, spider monkeys generally roam large areas of forest during the day as they search for fruits, plants and small insects to eat.
The declining population numbers are due to a combination of factorsin particular deforestation due to logging and land clearing. The exotic – and often illegal – pet trade also helps disrupt ongoing conservation efforts. In California, a misdemeanor conviction for possessing a prohibited animal carries a prison sentence of up to six months and a fine of up to $10,000.
According to CHP Madera’s Facebook post, authorities quickly transported the Rolls Royce passenger to the local animal shelter for an overnight stay and a snack of mashed bananas. As cute as it may sound, Toler emphasized the importance of sticking with more traditional pets.
“Because we didn’t have what the monkey needed to feed, we opted for the next best thing,” Toler said Tuesday. “This is not where they should be. You know, we shouldn’t be taking care of these animals. They need to be in the wild, with nature, with their own kind.”
After its brief stay in Madera County, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife took responsibility for the baby spider monkey. Authorities say the little monkey will soon come to the Oakland Zoo for additional care.