Where did Florida's wild rhesus macaques come from?

Where did Florida's wild rhesus macaques come from?

Florida's population of wild rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) has a fascinating and unusual origin story that dates back to the Great Depression.

The Introduction by Colonel Tooey

In 1938, a tour boat operator known locally as "Colonel" Tooey wanted to add an exciting new attraction for visitors taking boat rides along the Silver River (near present-day Ocala, Florida). He purchased a small group of rhesus macaques—typically numbering around six individuals—and released them onto a small island on the river.

Tooey mistakenly believed that monkeys would not or could not swim, and that the surrounding water would serve as a natural barrier to keep them confined to the island for tourists to view from a safe distance.

The Great Escape

As it turns out, rhesus macaques are strong swimmers. Within a very short time after their release, the monkeys simply swam off the island and into the surrounding Ocala mainland forests and swamps. Finding a subtropical climate with abundant food sources and no natural predators, the macaques thrived and began reproducing rapidly.

Modern Impact and Management

Decades later, the population has grown significantly and expanded its range along the Silver and Ocala river basins. While they remain a popular curiosity for some visitors, they are also recognized as an invasive species. Concerns over ecological impact and public health—notably that some macaques carry the Herpes B virus—have led to various management and removal efforts by wildlife authorities over the years.