Dozens of Wild Monkeys Seen Fleeing Across Florida River Leave Locals Wondering: ‘What Are They Running From?’
SILVER SPRINGS, FLORIDA — Visitors kayaking along the Silver Springs River were treated to an unexpected — and slightly terrifying — spectacle this week after dozens of wild monkeys suddenly leaped into the water and began swimming frantically to the opposite bank.
A woman who happened to be kayaking nearby pulled out her phone when she noticed one monkey dive into the river, but within seconds, the trees above erupted into motion. What began as a few curious swimmers turned into a chaotic flood of monkeys splashing into the water one after another.
“It looked like the sky was raining monkeys,” the woman said between laughs in her now-viral video.
‘What the Heck Are They Running From?’
At first, the woman filming was amused — until she noticed how determined the animals seemed to be. The monkeys weren’t just playing or cooling off; they were all moving in the same direction, as if fleeing something unseen.
“What the heck is making them all jump?” she can be heard asking. The clip ends before showing what, if anything, was on the other side of the river.
Many online viewers, however, were less entertained and more alarmed by what they saw.
“I would be terrified because what the hell are they running from?” one viewer wrote.
“If they’re all fleeing like that, I’m jumping in too,” another added.
Some commenters speculated that the troop could have been startled by a predator or loud noise, while others joked that the reaction was proof enough to “follow the animals when they start running.”
@fireball_1969 this was the best day to see Florida’s wild monkeys they sure put on a show for us.#foryoupage #outdoors #wildlife
Locals Shocked: ‘I Didn’t Even Know Florida Had Monkeys’
The viral footage also sparked surprise from many who didn’t realize Florida has wild monkey populations. “Wild monkeys in Florida? I don’t know anything about the world,” one commenter said.
The Silver Springs State Park area is actually home to hundreds of rhesus macaques, a non-native species originally introduced in the 1930s for a jungle-themed river attraction. Over the decades, the population grew and spread, with many monkeys adapting comfortably to Florida’s subtropical forests.
Experts say rhesus macaques are strong swimmers and occasionally cross the Silver River to forage or avoid human activity — though mass crossings like this are rare and often triggered by disturbance or stress.
Possible Explanation: Playful, but Worrying Behavior
Some wildlife enthusiasts pointed out that monkeys are known to enjoy the water, especially when temperatures rise. “They love jumping from heights into rivers — it’s a social activity,” one person commented.
Still, the synchronized leap of dozens of monkeys left viewers uneasy. “If that many are swimming away from one side, I’m not sticking around to find out why,” one user joked.
For now, the mystery remains unsolved — but one thing is certain: Florida’s wild monkeys are thriving, and they continue to remind locals that the Sunshine State’s wildlife can be just as unpredictable as its headlines.
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