Originally posted by DennyK:
Awsome photography, never knew there were monkeys in the US. Thanks for sharing!
Denny
The monkeys are Rhesus Macaques. They are descendants of a failed attempt by a previous owner of Silver Springs Attractions to establish a "monkey island". A lot of people think they are left over from the Johnny Weissmuller version of the Tarzan films that were filmed here, but if you watch those movies you won't see that kind of monkey. There are five distinct feral bands that inhabit the Ocklawaha and Silver River basins. They are nomadic so sometimes you see them and sometimes you don't. The alpha males are mean and can be aggressive.
Silver Springs attractions has been taken over by the state and is now a state park. They are in the process of restoring the land to a more natural state and are keeping very few of the old buildings. They are still operating the "World Famous Glass Bottom Boats."
Thanks again for the comments, fellas.