NEED TO KNOW

U.S. officials investigating rise in spider monkeys trafficked and sold as pets on social media

CBS and Inside Edition exposed smuggling routes from Mexico and illegal sales in Texas parking lots

Poachers kill mothers to steal infants, worsening species decline as zoos struggle to care for rescued babies

An unsettling trend is rising in spider monkeys being poached and sold on social media, and officials from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are on the case to stop this practice from escalating further.

In a joint investigation by CBS and Inside Edition , officials were able to shed light on the growing trend that’s putting a strain on local facilities and leading to the ill treatment of these already-endangered animals.

According to the report, the spide

See Full Page