Wildlife Rescue Monkey Dies After Sudden Collapse in Rehabilitation

Just when wildlife rescuers thought Georgie the howler monkey was on the road back to the wild, tragedy struck.

Georgie was first admitted to the Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic last year after being ravaged by thousands of New World Screwworm maggots. After nine months of intensive treatment, he made a remarkable recovery and was transferred to rehabilitation, where caretakers reported encouraging progress and began preparing for a possible release.

“At that time, all looked well, he transferred into rehab, enjoyed howling sessions and flirting with the females at Wildtracks,” the Wildlife & Referral Clinic shared on social media.

But nearly 10 months into his rehabilitation, Georgie suddenly collapsed and began suffering seizures. Despite efforts to save him, he later died. Caretakers suspect a stroke, though necropsy results are still pending.

“Just as our hopes for an eventual return to the wild were growing, Georgie showed us the real risks of long-term consequences of severe injuries,” the clinic stated.

The New World Screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. Infestations of the scale Georgie endured are often fatal, and cases that do survive can carry hidden consequences, including vascular and neurological damage.

Wildtracks, which rehabilitates Belize’s two native howler monkey species for release into protected forests, said the loss was among the hardest the team had experienced. In a statement, staff said they took solace in knowing Georgie spent his final months “surrounded by monkeys and people who cared.”