A surprising incident occurred in California when police pulled over a Rolls Royce suspected of a DUI and found a large amount of marijuana and a spider monkey wearing a pink onesie in the front seat. The driver, Ali Mused Adel Mohamed, was arrested and charged with DUI and possession of cannabis for sale after being caught speeding on SR-99. The California Highway Patrol spokesperson mentioned that it was unusual to see a baby monkey attached to the driver during the traffic stop.
The possession of spider monkeys as pets is illegal in California due to their endangered status, and the exotic pet was taken from Mohamed. The Madera County Animal Services Director emphasized that these animals should be in the wild and not be taken care of by humans. The infant male monkey was first taken to the Madera Animal Shelter before being transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife who would then transport the primate to the Oakland Zoo. Adorable videos were posted on Facebook showing the monkey feeding itself with mashed bananas using spoons at the temporary shelter.
Following the arrest, Mohamed was booked into Madera County Jail with multiple charges, including possession of an exotic animal. Photos captured the monkey sitting in Mohamed’s lap in the back of a cop car, as well as cops removing several bags of marijuana buds from the luxury vehicle. This incident was not the first involving a monkey being taken by law enforcement due to illegal ownership, as seen in the case of Dallas police confiscating an internet-famous monkey named Jorgie Boy.
In November, Dallas police took possession of Jorgie Boy after his owner, Brandi Botello, was involved in a single-car crash while allegedly under the influence. Despite the monkey being severely malnourished and sick, Botello fought to have him returned to her, even though he was found to have fractured bones and weighed only six pounds, which is less than half the average weight of a spider monkey. This incident highlights the illegal possession of exotic animals as pets and the risks involved in such ownership. It also sheds light on the importance of wildlife conservation and proper care for endangered species like spider monkeys.
