Like humans, monkeys and apes are primates, meaning that we share many characteristics, from our opposable thumbs to the way we interact with other organisms. Although other primates are extremely intelligent, humans are, by far, much more intelligent. However, some primates, especially monkeys, have been known for outsmarting humans, with specimens in zoos often stealing hats, glasses and other items from visitors. They are also capable of escaping enclosures, often attempting to escape from zoos and other parks using their strength and intelligence. And that is exactly what a rhesus macaque did. Rhesus macaques, also commonly referred to as "rhesus monkeys" are some of the world's most intelligent monkeys, with more of them escaping from zoos each year than any other types of monkeys. Although many have escaped in a variety of places across the United States, there was one in particular that shocked people. This monkey escaped its enclosure in 2009 in Florida and roamed to various places. There were many attempts to tranquilize this animal and put in back in an enclosure to rehabilitate, but almost every time, the monkey outsmarted the people trying to capture it, either outrunning the people or hiding in secluded spots, such as large trees. And every time it was tranquilized, it soon woke up and escaped before people could secure the mammal. Rhesus monkeys, native to southern Asia, are, like other small monkeys, incredibly skilled climbers. So this monkey used this ability to outsmart people. Sometimes, several months went by without any sightings. Many people believed this monkey to be dead, due to the differences between Florida's habitats and the habitats of southern Asia, which the macaques are more familiar with, but to their surprise, it lived. Four years later, it was finally seen. And this time, people outsmarted the monkey instead of the other way around. Although this monkey was hiding in the shadows of Florida's forests and swamps for several years, it was quite calm and docile when captured. It was confirmed to be a male, weighing approximately 30 pounds. However, another surprise caught peoples' attention. People had discovered small populations of rhesus monkeys in Silver River State Park. There had, in fact, been wild rhesus monkeys before this one, mainly due to Hurricane Andrew that destroyed many zoos and wildlife parks in southern Florida and caused people to release their monkeys, but people believed that they were all captured. People have captured most, causing most to think that they are completely extinct in the Florida wild. However, unverified sightings keep pouring in. And it is for this reason that we know that there are still small populations of rhesus monkeys not only roaming in Florida, but also throughout Morgan Island in South Carolina and Long Island in New York. Will these monkeys establish a steady population in the United States? Will humans soon be overmatched by these wild monkeys?
A person happens upon a rhesus monkey in Silver River State Park. This is a very rare sighting.