Yellow fever deaths reported among threatened captive monkeys in Colombia

An ongoing outbreak of yellow fever in Colombia is sickening and killing rare and threatened monkey species in captivity, a new study shows. Between February and May 2025, authorities reported eight deaths among four monkey species in southern Colombia’s Putumayo department, researchers note. Six of the individuals were in captivity: one white-fronted capuchin (Cebus albifrons), four black-faced spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps), a species classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List, and a common woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha), listed as vulnerable. Two wild night monkeys (Aotus spp.) were found dead near the rural area of Vereda El Naranjito, close to one of the captive facilities. Clinical signs of yellow fever among the monkeys included lethargy, fever, jaundice, muscle weakness