Latest news with #spiderMonkey
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Watch: Spider monkey rescued during drug bust now thriving at the zoo
OAKLAND, California (WJW) – A young spider monkey named Violeta is enjoying her new home at the Oakland Zoo after being rescued alongside rattlesnakes during a drug bust last month. The investigation started when deputies with the Solano County Sheriff's Office stopped a vehicle in the city of Vallejo on May 6. During the traffic stop, deputies confiscated half a pound of methamphetamine and arrested 50-year-old Clifford Vincenty, the department said on Facebook at the time. Vincenty, a California man, was taken into custody and charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale. Salmonella outbreak tied to eggs sickens dozens across 7 states The next day, law enforcement conducted a search at Vincenty's Vallejo home, where investigators reported finding another pound of meth, more than $2,000 in cash, a spider monkey and two rattlesnakes. According to the sheriff's office, animal control officials removed the animals from the home. The Facebook post said Vincenty would be facing additional charges. The spider monkey, believed to be about 18-months old at the time, was taken to the Oakland Zoo's Veterinary Hospital. 'Veterinary Hospital staff are taking measures to ensure Violeta's overall wellbeing and have reported that she is doing well in her temporary home where keepers have set up enrichment, along with blankets and toys to keep her comfortable and stimulated,' the zoo said in a May press release. 'They are providing her with a healthy diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, and she is drinking formula that will help to minimize the likelihood of pathologic bony fractures.' Later in the month, zoo officials said Violeta was making 'incredible progress.' 'Her corneal ulcers have fully healed, and she's now active and engaged, especially during social enrichment,' zoo officials said on X. Graduates galore! Northeast Ohio mom and 3 daughters graduate in the same month In another update on Friday, the Oakland Zoo posted a video of Violeta playing in her new enclosure. 'Guess who's out of quarantine and loving her new space? Violeta is!' the post said on X. 'Cleared of all infectious disease testing, she's moved to a larger area and is gaining weight slowly but steadily!' The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists spider monkeys as an endangered species. According to the Oakland Zoo, they are one of the most trafficked animals over the U.S.-Mexico border. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNN
17-05-2025
- CNN
Spider monkey rescued in drug raid
An endangered female spider monkey was rescued after a drug-related search in Vallejo, California. She is now being cared for by Oakland Zoo.
CNN
17-05-2025
- CNN
Spider monkey rescued in drug raid
An endangered female spider monkey was rescued after a drug-related search in Vallejo, California. She is now being cared for by Oakland Zoo.
CNN
17-05-2025
- CNN
Spider monkey rescued in drug raid
An endangered female spider monkey was rescued after a drug-related search in Vallejo, California. She is now being cared for by Oakland Zoo.
CBS News
13-05-2025
- CBS News
California traffic stop leads to officers rescuing spider monkey, again
VALLEJO — An endangered species was uncovered after yet another traffic stop in California. This time, a spider monkey was found after a drug bust near Vallejo. The Solano County Sheriff's Office says a traffic stop turned into a rescue mission that now involves the Oakland Zoo. It's the second time in six months that a traffic stop ended with officials taking a spider monkey into their care. "We're seeing more and more of them coming up from South America and being brought into private homes, and it's just not appropriate for these animals," said Dr. Andrea Goodnight with the Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital. All primates, including spider monkeys, are illegal to own in California. Now in the care of the Oakland Zoo, the monkey rescued May 6 has been affectionately named "Violeta." While she appears to be doing well right now, zoo staff are giving her a full physical exam — including a CT scan— and bloodwork to make sure she has proper organ function. Last Tuesday's traffic stop saw Solano County deputies pull over a car and uncover a massive amount of meth. The next day, authorities searched the suspect's home — and that's where they found the spider monkey, along with two rattlesnakes. If the story sounds familiar, that's because it is. Earlier this year, during a different traffic stop in Madera, California Highway Patrol officers found a spider monkey riding in the passenger seat of a Rolls-Royce driving down Highway 99. The suspect was arrested on drug charges and for allegedly driving under the influence. The Oakland Zoo also took that Madera spider monkey into their care, saying it was not properly cared for and was malnourished. Zoo officials say this trend is disturbing. "They are wild animals," Dr. Goodnight said. "They need proper care and they should be in the wild." Wildlife trafficking is one of the largest illegal trades in the world. The Oakland Zoo is committed to helping save these animals and stop this trend. The zoo says they will work with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and other national organizations to help find Violeta a sanctuary or other zoo where she can live a healthy life after they're done caring for her.
