One of the two subspecies found in the 5 Forests, the Yucatán spider monkey, is considered critically endangered among the 25 most threatened primates in the world.
The Central American spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) are distributed in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panama. Due to habitat loss and fragmentation, heavy pressure from hunting, and the pet trade, they are considered critically endangered. They have a relatively large range but are threatened by high rates of deforestation. The rates of narco effect (deforestation related to illegal drug trafficking), which is a great threat in the five forests, are 20 to 60% per year. Our focus on the 5 Forests will protect and restore this precious habitat.