Rescued monkey from Madera County traffic stop finds home at Oakland Zoo
Jan 03, 2025
MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The monkey found following a traffic stop in Madera County has safely arrived at the Oakland Zoo.
On Monday, officials say officers with the California Highway Patrol stopped a Rolls-Royce that was found to be traveling over the speed limit on Highway 99, north of Avenue 17. Inside the car, officers found a spider monkey believed to be one month old.
After the driver of the vehicle, Ali Mused Adel Mohamed, 27, was taken into custody, the monkey was transported to the Madera County Animal Services to stay overnight and prepare to travel to the Oakland Zoo for further care, per officials.
On Friday, Oakland Zoo officials announced the monkey's arrival at the zoo. They say the female monkey arrived at their veterinary hospital malnourished, with an abnormal coat and skin and suffering from an upper respiratory infection. She is considered a critical case, but the staff is hopeful for her recovery.
Zoo officials estimate the monkey is around five to six months old.
Footage sent to Yourcentralvalley.com shows the state of the monkey, being taken care of by zoo staff.
Officials with the zoo add they are currently working on a name for her that "pays homage to her species and/or where they are found in the wild."