BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Brevard Zoo will be a new temporary home for two confiscated spider monkey babies.
The female and male monkeys were being held illegally by an owner without the necessary permits required to own the primates according to Brevard Zoo.
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The origin and location of their parents is currently unknown.
Brevard Zoo is the best option for these monkeys as they have permits and three-habitat spider monkey complexes to house the new residents.
The zookeepers at Brevard Zoo are highly experienced in caring for young monkeys that get separated from their parents.
The male monkey, named Finn, is about six months old while his sister, Marceline, is estimated to be three months old.
Neither suffered any serious medical conditions, but they are both being treated for parasites, according to Lauren Hinson, the director of animal programs.
Both animals are underweight but are eating well and have started a new diet consisting of vegetables, Hinson said.
Marceline and Finn live in separate habitats with the rest of the spider monkeys.
The end goal for Marceline and Finn is to have them moved to another zoo which could take some months or even years.
Until then the Brevard Zoo is fully equipped to take care of them.
The circumstances that brought the two monkeys to the zoo are still being investigated.
The zoo notes that vulnerable wildlife is trafficked every day, especially here in Florida fueling the illegal pet trade.
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