ST. LOUIS — Four endangered Mexican spider monkeys rescued from smugglers near the southern U.S. border have found a home at the St. Louis Zoo.

It marks the first time in recent memory the 115-year-old institution has taken permanent possession of confiscated primates. Zoo staff hope the monkeys’ story can raise awareness about the devastation caused by the illegal wildlife trade.

“These animals are ambassadors for their wild counterparts,” said Heidi Hellmuth, the zoo’s curator of primates.

Zoos generally are not in the rescue business. With tens of thousands of animals illegally smuggled into the country every year, however, institutions increasingly are seeing trafficking awareness and prevention as another aspect of their conservation work.

At the same time, wildlife advocates say

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