He was on his last breath.
Earlier this week, fishing guide Eder Rocha was taking a group along the Sixaola River, which runs near the border of Costa Rica and Panama, when he noticed something unusual in the water.
At first, it looked like a small head bobbing in the middle of the river. As the boat got closer, Eder realized it was a howler monkey struggling against the current.
The monkey was clearly exhausted. He seemed unsure whether to keep swimming toward the shore or turn back, and he was quickly losing strength. Eder knew they had to act fast.
He told the crew they were going to help the animal before it was too late.
Using an oar as a lifeline, Eder and the others carefully guided the tired monkey toward the boat. After a tense moment, they managed to bring him aboard, turning what had started as a fishing trip into an unexpected rescue.
Once on the boat, the monkey kept some distance from the people around him. He was tired and likely scared, but Eder felt as though the animal understood he had been helped.
At one point, the monkey opened his mouth and made a low growling sound. To Eder, the look he gave almost felt like a thank-you — as if the monkey knew someone had stepped in just in time.
Howler monkeys can sometimes cross rivers when they need to, but they are much better suited to moving through trees than fighting strong water currents. This monkey had clearly gotten into trouble and might not have survived without help.
Thanks to Eder and his crew, the exhausted animal got a second chance. For Eder, saving the monkey’s life made the day unforgettable and left him with the deep satisfaction of knowing he had done something good.