It's so hot in Mexico that howler monkeys are falling dead from the trees

[sl8]

https://apnews.com/article/mexico-heat-wave-howler-monkeys-dying-b99e0570dfb53a2fb7ebe663acecde78

It’s so hot in Mexico that howler monkeys are falling dead from the trees

BY MARK STEVENSON
Updated 2:19 PM EDT, May 21, 2024

MEXICO CITY (AP) — It’s so hot in Mexico that howler monkeys are falling dead from the trees.

At least 83 of the midsize primates, who are known for their roaring vocal calls, were found dead in the Gulf coast state of Tabasco. Others were rescued by residents, including five that were rushed to a local veterinarian who battled to save them.

“They arrived in critical condition, with dehydration and fever,” said Dr. Sergio Valenzuela. ”They were as limp as rags. It was heatstroke.”

While Mexico’s brutal heatwave has been linked to the deaths of at least 26 people since March, veterinarians and rescuers say it has killed dozens and perhaps hundreds of howler monkeys.

[...]

[JudyM]

1. Whoa, horrific.

[MFM008]

2. The future

🌏🌎🌍

[Native]

5. ...is here and now.

[Ponietz]

3. Yeah but cheap gas and record airline travel

Every day we fail to act voluntarily hastens an autocratic regime that will use force.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Some species will not survive climate change. Adapt or die time.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

6. I think the orcas are adapting.

[Irish_Dem]

8. Exactly. Some species are going to fight back.

[stopdiggin]

14. Ummm. The species most likely to 'fight back'

(if that terminology is in any way applicable) - are almost certainly going to be viruses and single celled organisms.

A handful of orcas going rogue in the Mediterranean ... Means - - essentially nothing.

[Irish_Dem]

17. In science, unusual events are of interest.

And often have some meaning.

Scientists try to figure out what that meaning might be.

[stopdiggin]

19. I assumed that (given context in the string) what was inferred in 'fighting back'

was that 'other species' would turn to targeting humans. And - it requires a further leap to infer a degree of deliberation and motivation against said target - on the basis of understanding the stresses and causation of 'climate change'

I'll await any kind of evidence for such behavior.
(by any species - - excepting of course, homo sapiens).

[Irish_Dem]

20. Those are a lot of inferences.

We don't have data to support them.

But it would make an interesting hypothesis to support or refute.

It is called science.

A scientist notices something unusual, develops hypotheses and tests them.

Yes you are correct. We have to wait for the data.

What we do know is that when a species is stressed for whatever reason, they tend to
get more aggressive. Also Darwin tells us species will fight for survival.

So we can use those theories to help us make some hypotheses.

[stopdiggin]

22. I'd be more than willing to theorize a greater incidence of stress

(and situational, i.e. population overlap) attacks and/or conflict. In fact we are probably already seeing such today. (with mountain lion attacks being a prime example) (and unusual behavior in certain orca pods - possibly amounting to another)

That is still a very, very large jump from conflating 'stress behaviors' - to 'some species fighting back', in the sense of targeting humans for conflict/attack. (and particularly in any sort of motivational, or purpose based aggression)

[Irish_Dem]

24. 100% certain that fighting back can be a stress behavior.

As species become more stressed with climate change, weather changes, lack of typical food supply,
migration, encroachment of others into food supply territory, there is going to be more aggressive behavior.

It is plausible other species will be seen as a threat for reduced resources needed for survival.
Threats are usually attacked.

Not much of a leap at all.

[stopdiggin]

25. your reply illustrates just why it is a great leap.

stress related behaviors (and possible aggression) while entirely predictable will almost certainly be directed against either 1) visible competition for resources (which already occurs), or 2) random aggression without identifiable motivation. But, in neither of those instances is there any motivational or directional attacks - pointing in a purposeful deliberate manner toward homo sapiens. Or, in common parlance, as you put it, "fighting back."

I'll say it again - by far the most likely candidates for 'fighting back' against the human population - are going to be viruses and single celled organisms. And they don't have the foggiest idea (nor care) what they are doing - just reacting to an available food source. But they (and of course the ubiquitous mankind itself) are the only realistic and/or meaningful 'opposition' we will see against the sapiens species. And, unless I missed the thread entirely, that's is pretty much what you meant in the post about 'species fighting back'.

EDIT: I'm going to try again here (in the spirit of comity and understanding) Are you envisioning something like a starving polar bear being marginally, and ever so slightly, more of a danger nearby human beings? Which I grant as a possibility - but hardly seems to merit mention insofar as striking a blow against the cancer of human population.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[orleans]

7. so sad. how do you set up cooling stations for wildlife? kid pools with ice drop offs on a regular basis?

idk.

[Hekate]

9. The tipping point is Here and Now. And what are the nations doing? Sliding toward fascism worldwide...

….Fomenting wars to distract us.

I’d say “God forgive us,” but somehow I don’t think the Earth Goddess actually will.
🌊🌊🌊🌊

[Auggie]

10. Monkeys today, humans tomorrow

[littlemissmartypants]

15. Humans today, too. Check the statistics.

[doc03]

11. I thought this was an Empty Greene post. Sorry for the monkeys. nt

[Otterdaemmerung]

12. Then how are Marjorie Soylent Greene and Lauren Bobert Fanannafannafofert still with us?

The mind boggles.

[thomski64]

26. ..human howler monkey hybrids..

[anciano]

13. Nature has recovered from five mass extinctions,

and, if need be, she will once again, with or without us.

[jimfields33]

27. Yep. The world will go on.

[summer_in_TX]

16. I've been wondering, is this rapid increase in the average temperature on our planet like a fever?

Fevers can kill. Is it Mother Earth's way of ridding herself of this most destructive organism in order to save life on earth?

We cannot know, of course. Just speculating here.

[sl8]

18. Well, even if it's not literally Mother Earth/Gaia reacting, it's a darn good metaphor.

And if's literally true, well, I'll probably be ok - I'm such a minute speck, to her, that I doubt she even notices my babblings.

[summer_in_TX]

21. As a species, I think if we don't change (and I'm not optimistic), we will bring down a mass extinction event on us.

Whether Mother Earth/Gaia is conscious or not, the effect will be the same. (I rather expect that she IS conscious.)

[Marcuse]

23. Lest we forget.