LONGWOOD, Fla. – A rhesus macaque is on the loose in Longwood.
Video submitted by a News 6 viewer shows the monkey wandering through an open field not far from Wekiva Springs State Park.
At one point, the primate rises up on its hind legs, giving onlookers a clear view of the unexpected visitor.
The rhesus macaques are an invasive species that were introduced to Florida by a tour boat operator in the 1930s and have thrived at Silver Springs ever since.
In 1938, a tour boat operator, Colonel Tooey, released just 6 Rhesus macaque monkeys onto a small island, later converted to Silver Springs Park. His motive was to create a park closely resembling the Tarzan story; therefore, he procured the monkeys from New York City.
But what Colonel Tooey didn’t know is that this particular species of monkeys are excellent swimmers – they escaped the premises within minutes of releasing them. Thus, to replace them, six more monkeys were bought. They, too, escaped like the previous batch. By the early 1980s, these monkeys had already spread across what now is the 5000-acre Silver Springs Park.
Silver Springs blog: "Why Are There Monkeys At Silver Springs?" (excerpt)
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Beyond environmental concerns, the monkeys also pose a public health risk — rhesus macaques in Florida have tested positive for herpes B.
The FWC provides these tips for rhesus macaque encounters:
- Never approach or offer food to wild monkeys
- If a monkey is encountered, keep children close and pets leashed
- Dispose of uneaten food and garbage in closed trash containers
- If bitten or scratched by a wild monkey, immediately wash the wound and seek medical attention. Call the National B Virus Resource Center for emergency information at (404) 413-6550.
- If you observe a wild monkey that poses a threat to people, call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922
- Any rhesus macaque observations seen outside of the core population near Silver Springs should be reported by calling the Exotic Species Hotline at (888) 483-4681 or by clicking here