Rescued Spider Monkeys

The Federal Wildlife Conservation Center outside of Mexico City is the home to many rare and endangered species that have been rescued from illegal smugglers. These spider monkeys are being raised by the center's specialists after they were found inside an abandoned canvas bag, along with three who didn't survive. The black rattlesnake below, seen inside a plastic tube, was also rescued from illegal traffickers.According to Mexico's Federal Wildlife Conservation Department, at least 2,500 different animals are rescued there every year. In order to fight against this illegal selling of wild animals (the third largest smuggling business in the world, after the smuggling of illegal drugs and weapons), more than 170 countries have joined the Washington Convention on the international trade of wild fauna and flora species threatened with extinction (also known by its French name, CITES). If you are interested in wildlife conservation and learning more about what you can do to help stop illegal wildlife trading, the website of The Wildlife Conservation Society is a good place to start. They started in the early 1900's when they successfully helped the American bison recover on the Western Plains; today, they manage about 500 conservation projects in more than 60 countries. As it says on their website: Wildlife trade is a critical global challenge-feeding an international appetite for exotic goods including ivory, pelts, traditional medicines, and wild meats.As the human footprint expands, so does the trade: The more access we gain into wild places, the more we exploit their resources. We all have a role to play in stopping the illegal smuggling and sale of endangered wild animals. Photos: Carlos Jasso/Reuters