A family in Silver Springs was attacked by monkeys on Wednesday. The family, which constituted of a mother with her two children, had visited Silver Springs Park when they came across the monkeys.
The cellphone video recording shows her son screaming for help as the monkey’s attack.
"You guys the monkeys are attacking. Oh, my God. Guys the monkeys are attacking us. Oh, my God," her son is heard in the video as the monkeys moved closer to Susie Ramsey.
Ramsey revealed that the monkeys approached like they were charging them, adding that they came in within a few feet and they kind of had them all blocked in. Ramsey said that her son could be heard laughing in the video, but she claims it was because he wasn't aware of the danger.
"We definitely went from saying, 'Wow, look at the monkeys,' to, 'Oh, my God our lives are in danger," said Ramsey, who also revealed that there were no signs in the area warning them of the monkeys.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued the Wildlife Alert Hotline and 1-888-404-3922 for residents who spot a rhesus macaque monkey, the Officials advise that you do not approach or feed them; the monkeys can become aggressive without warning. The animal officials also said that one should seek medical attention if they are bitten or scratched.
A statement released by Florida Department of Environmental Protection revealed that there are warnings placed in several places. Flyers related specifically to the monkeys are posted at kiosks throughout Silver Springs State Park, with specific signage posted at the Ross Island Boardwalk and Sea Hunt Deck.
Matt Mitchell, assistant director, Florida State Parks said that these areas have been closed due to recent increased monkey presence. The monkeys were brought to Florida in the 1930s as indicated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Their ability to swim led to problems for a business owner who brought them to the U.S. to add to his jungle boat tour.
Tour operator Colonel Tooey transported three pairs of Rhesus monkeys to the park near Ocala in the 1930s as revealed by wildlife officials. Some of the rare wild monkeys carry herpes despite being on the loose in Florida.
The breed is now all over Florida, totaling more than 1,000 monkeys. The State officials have caught more than 700 of the monkeys in the past decade. Unfortunately, most of them tested positive for the herpes-B virus.
Source:
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/monkeys-in-silver-springs-attacked-a-child-in-a-youtube-video
http://nypost.com/2013/09/12/herpes-infected-monkeys-terrorize-florida/
