Brevard Zoo’s Baby Spider Monkey Undergoes Amputation After Freak Enclosure Accident

Last week, Sully slipped his arm through the mesh-style fencing of his enclosure, becoming stuck. His caretakers and fellow troop members quickly came to his aid, and zookeepers cut the mesh to free him.

However, medical assessments revealed his arm was broken at the elbow, and the chances of regaining normal function were less than 10%, according to zoo veterinarian Dr. Trevor Zachariah.

After consulting with a veterinary surgeon, experts determined that amputation was the best option to prevent long-term pain. “Due to his age, healing and adjustment to the absence of the limb are expected to be rapid,” Dr. Zachariah said, adding that spider monkeys, with their prehensile tails, can still thrive despite limb loss.

Sully spent the night at the zoo’s L3 Harris Animal Care Center and is now recovering in his habitat’s night house with his mother, Tika. While no exact timeline has been given, zoo officials expect Sully to rejoin his troop soon.

This is the first time such an injury has occurred at the zoo in decades. Officials emphasized that their enclosures exceed safety standards set by organizations such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

“We pride ourselves on providing a safe home for our animals, and we hate that this rare accident led to such a serious injury,” the zoo stated. “We remain committed to Sully’s full recovery and his reintegration into the troop.”

Reference: Monkey at Brevard Zoo has arm amputated after it gets stuck in mesh fencing

About The Author