California Traffic Stop Leads to Another Spider Monkey Rescue by Police

During yet another traffic stop in California, a rare species was found. After a drug bust near Vallejo, this time a spider monkey was found.

Police in Solano County say that a traffic stop turned into a rescue mission that now includes the Oakland Zoo.

It’s the second time in six months that a spider monkey has been taken into care after a traffic stop.

“More and more of them are coming up from South America and being taken into private homes, which is not right for these animals,” said Dr. Andrea Goodnight of the Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital.

In California, it is against the law to own any kind of monkey, even spider monkeys.

The monkey that was saved on May 6 has been lovingly named “Violeta.” It is now home at the Oakland Zoo. Staff at the zoo are giving her a full physical check, which includes a CT scan, and blood work to make sure her organs are working properly. She seems to be doing fine right now.

Solano County officers pulled over a car last Tuesday and found a huge amount of meth inside. When the police checked the suspect’s house the next day, they found the spider monkey and two rattlesnakes here.

It’s likely that you’ve heard this story before.

Earlier this year, California Highway Patrol officers stopped a car in Madera and found a spider monkey in the passenger seat. The car was going down Highway 99. The person was arrested on drug charges and for reportedly driving while drunk.

The Oakland Zoo also took that Madera spider monkey in because they said it wasn’t getting enough food and wasn’t getting the care it needed.

Officials at the zoo say this is a worrying trend.

“They are wild animals,” Dr. Goodnight said. “They need proper care and they should be in the wild.”

An important illegal business in the world is the trade of wildlife. We will do everything we can at the Oakland Zoo to save these animals and stop this trend.

The zoo says they will work with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and other national groups to help Violeta find a safe place to live or another zoo where she can stay healthy after they take care of her.