[NoMo50]

No...not the band. The attached photo is what appears to be a Rhesus Macaque monkey in the Village of Chitty Chatty. The picture, taken by a neighbor, is from a couple of days ago, along a walking path between a large reservoir and the Chitty Chatty Preserve. We have heard reports for years from neighbors claiming to hear monkey chatter coming out of the preserve, but have not seen one until now. Cool.

[TommyT]

Escapee from Silver Springs attraction many years past...

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by NoMo50

No...not the band. The attached photo is what appears to be a Rhesus Macaque monkey in the Village of Chitty Chatty. The picture, taken by a neighbor, is from a couple of days ago, along a walking path between a large reservoir and the Chitty Chatty Preserve. We have heard reports for years from neighbors claiming to hear monkey chatter coming out of the preserve, but have not seen one until now. Cool.

Cool? Dunno about that...

Those monkeys come from the Silver Springs State Park area. They were brought there (depending on which story you want to believe) as A) extras in the "Tarzan" Movies of the 1930s or B) to give tourists at the park a more jungle-like experience. They were brought there under the assumption that releasing them on the islands rather than the mainland would keep the population contained. It didn't...monkeys can swim.

They're highly intelligent, and once acclimated to people can become aggressive. There are several monkey parks containing Rhesus Macaques in Thailand that cater to tourists, who are warned ahead of time never to exhibit anything shiny and hide cameras under clothing, as they will come right up to tourists and snatch those items. Also if fed by people they'll come to expect to be fed and can get aggressive if not. Additionally they can carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans if bitten, among them Herpes B, which apparently is decidedly ungood for humans as (according to the 'net) it can cause fatal encephalitis in about half the people who are infected with it.

They're an invasive species, apparently one of the ones more directly dangerous to humans. Hopefully that fact is recognized and their numbers controlled.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Cool? Dunno about that...

Those monkeys come from the Silver Springs State Park area. They were brought there (depending on which story you want to believe) as A) extras in the "Tarzan" Movies of the 1930s or B) to give tourists at the park a more jungle-like experience. They were brought there under the assumption that releasing them on the islands rather than the mainland would keep the population contained. It didn't...monkeys can swim.

They're highly intelligent, and once acclimated to people can become aggressive. There are several monkey parks containing Rhesus Macaques in Thailand that cater to tourists, who are warned ahead of time never to exhibit anything shiny and hide cameras under clothing, as they will come right up to tourists and snatch those items. Also if fed by people they'll come to expect to be fed and can get aggressive if not. Additionally they can carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans if bitten, among them Herpes B, which apparently is decidedly ungood for humans as (according to the 'net) it can cause fatal encephalitis in about half the people who are infected with it.

They're an invasive species, apparently one of the ones more directly dangerous to humans. Hopefully that fact is recognized and their numbers controlled.

The "monkeys" said the same thing about humans in "Planet of the Apes"

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Cool? Dunno about that...

Those monkeys come from the Silver Springs State Park area. They were brought there (depending on which story you want to believe) as A) extras in the "Tarzan" Movies of the 1930s or B) to give tourists at the park a more jungle-like experience. They were brought there under the assumption that releasing them on the islands rather than the mainland would keep the population contained. It didn't...monkeys can swim.

They're highly intelligent, and once acclimated to people can become aggressive. There are several monkey parks containing Rhesus Macaques in Thailand that cater to tourists, who are warned ahead of time never to exhibit anything shiny and hide cameras under clothing, as they will come right up to tourists and snatch those items. Also if fed by people they'll come to expect to be fed and can get aggressive if not. Additionally they can carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans if bitten, among them Herpes B, which apparently is decidedly ungood for humans as (according to the 'net) it can cause fatal encephalitis in about half the people who are infected with it.

They're an invasive species, apparently one of the ones more directly dangerous to humans. Hopefully that fact is recognized and their numbers controlled.

Hopefully they are all male monkeys in that Village. Gay and happy ones.

[NoMo50]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Cool? Dunno about that...

I'm sticking with Cool. I enjoy viewing all of the diverse wildlife Florida has to offer. That doesn't mean someone should try to interact with them, or heaven forbid, feed them. The Chitty Chatty Preserve is loaded with all types of critters, to include bears, wild boar, bobcats, coyotes, gators, birds of all varieties, and even a reported sighting of a Florida panther. Anyone who is dumb enough to attempt to get up close and personal with wild animals must be looking for an audition for a Darwin Award.

[fdpaq0580]

That's no monkey! That's my wife.

Remembering Henny Youngman.

[JohnN]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

That's no monkey! That's my wife.

Remembering Henny Youngman.

Hey, that was exactly my thought! LOL

I'd rather monkeys than pythons. Just give them their space.

[Boffin]

Over 3,000 all over the state.

[Rocksnap]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Hopefully they are all male monkeys in that Village. Gay and happy ones.

Verse bitchy lesbian monkeys?

[raananh]

Monkeys, while cute and smart, are a real invasive annoying pest. For sure monkeys will spread all over Florida and there will LOTS of them.

The monkeys are also in Ocala. They are originally from Silver Springs park in Ocala, after the Tarzan movie used them as props in the 50s.

The only solution is to bring yet another non-native animal to kill/eat the monkeys. For that, the Filipino Eagle, one of the most beautiful eagles in the world and also one of the biggest eagles in the world will do an excellent work. The Filipino Eagle is so effective at hunting monkeys that there are NO native monkeys in the Philippines despite vast jungles.

Never mind monkeys, Florida also has a growing population of Parrots. At least parrots are not such a pest but there are some issues with them.

We already have Iguanas everywhere in Florida.

[BlueHeronFan]

I saw monkeys while vacationing in Ft Lauderdale in the 1990's. They were in a wooded area near our resort.

[Larry P.]

Originally Posted by NoMo50

No...not the band. The attached photo is what appears to be a Rhesus Macaque monkey in the Village of Chitty Chatty. The picture, taken by a neighbor, is from a couple of days ago, along a walking path between a large reservoir and the Chitty Chatty Preserve. We have heard reports for years from neighbors claiming to hear monkey chatter coming out of the preserve, but have not seen one until now. Cool.

I swear I hear them laughing in the trees every time I hit a bad tee shot.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Larry P.

I swear I hear them laughing in the trees every time I hit a bad tee shot.

They are not laughing at you. They are laughing with you.
Feel better now?