Monkey sighting at Orange Park apartment complex sparks curiosity, questions – WJXT News4JAX
Scott Johnson, Reporter/weekend anchor
Carianne Luter, Digital Media & Engagement Manager
Published:
Updated:
Scott Johnson, Reporter/weekend anchor
Carianne Luter, Digital Media & Engagement Manager
ORANGE PARK, Fla. – Residents at an Orange Park apartment complex were startled to discover an unexpected visitor this week — a monkey that was seen climbing in a tree.
The unusual guest has been spotted scurrying around the Reserve at Orange Park apartments on Wells Road, sparking curiosity and concern among neighbors.
Jasmine Morris, a News4JAX viewer, was the first to notice the monkey and alert News4JAX. Initially, she thought it was a cat, but a closer look through her window revealed something far more unusual.
“I just saw like a fluffy head staring at me right here,” she said. “I was like, no, that’s not a cat. It’s a monkey. By the time I said something, it jumped and started running.”
Morris shared video footage with News4JAX of the monkey exploring the area. The sighting left her with many questions, including where it might have come from. She wondered if it was related to reports from South Carolina weeks ago, where dozens of monkeys reportedly escaped.
Related: 4 monkeys remain free nearly 2 weeks after dozens escaped a South Carolina compound | 43 monkeys escape from a South Carolina medical lab. Police say there is no serious danger
“It’s just weird,” Morris added. “I’ve never seen a monkey outside of the zoo. I thought, wait a minute, this could be one of the monkeys still missing.”
News4JAX spoke to a Yemassee Police Department spokeswoman on Tuesday, the agency that is helping to track down the missing monkeys. She said she saw the video shared with News4JAX and showed it to people at Alpha Genesis in South Carolina. They said it was not one of the missing monkeys, adding the monkey seen in the Orange Park video appears to be the same kind of monkey, a Rhesus macaque, but it appears to be an adult, not an adolescent like the ones that went missing from the facility.
While it’s not the monkey that traveled from South Carolina, there are local theories.
Some suggest it could be a descendant of primates once kept at a now-closed research facility in Orange Park. Others speculate it might be an escaped pet. The Yemassee Police Department spokeswoman said the monkey may be a descendant of monkeys that live in Silver Springs.
Apartment management told News4JAX they have heard reports of residents spotting the monkey, but have yet to confirm any sightings. Management stated they would notify the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) if the situation escalates into a safety concern. The FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline is available at 888-404-FWCC for those needing to report wildlife issues.
Morris said she and her neighbors remain vigilant, watching for any signs of the monkey.
“I was sitting there, and I have a Ring camera and there’s a little bit of footage of me realizing, and I’m noticing that’s a monkey, and I’m like, ‘Guys, it’s a monkey!‘ And I was like, ’Literally, it’s a monkey.’ Because you don’t say that often, especially around here,” Morris said.
So far, there have been no reports of significant damage, but Morris noted that trash bags left out for collection appeared rummaged through.
Residents are keeping their doors closed and eyes peeled as they wait for the mystery to unfold.
Copyright 2024 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.
Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.
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