Akumal Monkey Sanctuary & Rescued Animals
We are a sanctuary dedicated to providing a safe haven for diverse species of wildlife, whether endemic, native, or exotic.
Many of these animals have been affected by human activities or natural phenomena that have severely impacted their environment. In most cases, these circumstances make it impossible for them to return to the wild, meaning they must remain under human care for the rest of their lives.
To date, we have rescued more than 200 animals from around 35 species
We collaborate with PROFEPA
To carry out our mission, we collaborate closely with government agencies, researchers, universities, and institutions dedicated to biodiversity conservation.
In the legal sphere, we work closely with the Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), which plays a fundamental role in our operations. Many of the animals currently at our sanctuary were rescued by PROFEPA and entrusted to us for their long-term care.
As part of this process, the sanctuary cannot accept animals from private individuals without first consulting PROFEPA, which is the one that decides whether they remain under our care.
Environmental Education
As part of our commitment to environmental education, we offer educational guided tours led by qualified staff.
Our guides share the stories of the animals we care for, explaining their origin, the circumstances that led them to the sanctuary, the care they receive, and key information about the biology of each species.
Through our Educational Engagement Program, visitors have the unique opportunity to observe and connect with animals in a respectful and natural way, without forced interaction. This approach helps raise awareness about the importance of caring for both native and exotic wildlife and discourages the acquisition of wild animals as pets.
This program is officially approved by the relevant environmental authorities.
Animal Welfare
To maintain the animals in adequate physical and mental condition, an environmental enrichment program is implemented using various techniques. The program consists of making modifications to the environment to which the animals are normally accustomed and can be divided into six categories:
- STRUCTURAL ENRICHMENT
- FOOD ENRICHMENT
- SENSORY ENRICHMENT
- MOTOR ENRICHMENT
- SOCIAL ENRICHMENT
- ANIMAL TRAINING
#SaveSpiderMonkey
We care for young spider monkeys that arrive at the sanctuary due to various circumstances and work to integrate and socialize them into new groups.
Being so young, they need suitable conditions to ensure their well-being.
In the wild, mothers teach their young essential survival skills. Sadly, many of these monkeys fall victim to illegal trafficking and miss out on this vital education.
Rehabilitation, relocation, and reintroduction programs
We recently rehabilitated a spider monkey that had suffered multiple injuries after being hit by a car. After a long recovery process, it became the first spider monkey in the region to be successfully reintroduced into its natural habitat.
Our goal is to develop a medium- and long-term reintroduction program for local species, focusing primarily on the spider monkey.
This work has been carried out in collaboration with primate specialists and behavioral observation projects.
