Madeline (Giles) DeJournett is the Advance writer for the North Stoddard Countian. A retired high school English/history teacher, she spent 32 years teaching in 5 schools in Missouri and Alaska. These days, she lives quietly with a menagerie of wild and domestic animals on 52 secluded acres in the remote Tillman hills south of Advance. She graduated from Dexter High School in 1960 and Southeast Missouri State in 1964. She can be contacted at advancensc@sbcglobal.net.

Monkey business!

Posted Wednesday, October 2, 2013, at 4:27 PM

This 1988 photo shows a rhesus monkey at the water's edge in the Silver River in Florida. At that time, approximately 350 monkeys lived around the river. Since then, efforts to trap them have resulted in a reduction in their numbers.

So you think it can't happen to you?

I've been wanting to go see the wild monkeys living on the Silver River in Florida, ever since my friend Lana told me about them, so I was interested when recent news reports started ranting and raving about "Diseased monkeys running wild in Florida!"

According to legend, the original monkeys escaped during the filming of a Tarzan movie in the 1930's.

Truth is, they were imported in 1938 by the owner of a river boat tour business, and they have proved a very popular attraction.

In fact, when the State of Florida tried to label them a "non-native species" and order their deportation, the people of the state had a hissy fit and demanded that they "leave the monkeys alone!"

I posted one of these stories on Facebook, making the observation that most of us have nothing to worry about--monkeys are not going to show up in our back yards.

My son Todd, now an engineer in Minnesota, posted back,"I wouldn't be too sure of that, based on past experience."

He's right.

When he was about five, I was home on maternity leave with his younger brother. I noticed the hawks flying over the woods in back of the house, and I thought, "I wonder if those birds are after my banty chickens?"

Then the dogs started barking their big-time-intruder bark on the back porch. "Come quick! A monster is out here!!!"

My husband looked out the kitchen door, and said, "You aren't gonna believe this!"

I looked out the window, and there sat a little gray monkey, holding its long tail and wringing it like a handkerchief.

What to do? What to do??

I got the dog carrier, set it down on the porch, and threw a banana in it.

The little monkey went right in, obviously scared and used to being in a cage.

We kept it in the laundry room, while I called around to neighbors.

"Fern, you're going to think I'm crazy, but do you know anyone who's lost a monkey?"

"A MONkey???"

No luck there.

I called up to the Ward's Store: "Bill, do you know anyone who's lost a monkey?"

"A MON-key????"

Finally I called my friend Jean and struck pay dirt.

"Why, yes, Madeline, there was a fella here this morning, looking for a monkey. I'll call him."

In short order, a young man knocked on my door and took the monkey with him, much to my son's disappointment. I think he had visions of some great "Show and Tell" sessions in kindergarten. The five dollar reward was small compensation for the loss of his dream pet.

How did the monkey get loose from its owner, you ask? They were taking her to the vet, and when they opened the car door, she grabbed the chance to be free. However, since the weather in February is hardly conducive to tropical guests, she soon went in search of shelter.

Ever after, my husband would tease my son by looking out the back window and saying, "Toddie, is that a giraffe I see in the woods??"

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I remember visiting my dear uncle in Florida years ago at Ocala he would want us to go see the monkeys in Florida. And he would say "First you gotta get on a boat".We hardly believed him he was such a kidder. R I P, Uncle Carl.

-- Posted by Dexterite1 on Thu, Oct 3, 2013, at 5:35 AM
My son has always joked about having an irrational fear of monkeys!

-- Posted by goat lady on Thu, Oct 3, 2013, at 6:21 AM
I just talked about these monkeys in my class, then assigned them to research the monkey history to share next class period. I sometimes wonder at the ironies in life, and this is one. The monkeys have been trapped and used for testing in the last few years, which I just discovered. There has been controversy over the presence of these little fellows. I have never known anyone who got sick from being near the monkeys, nor have I known anyone who was attacked, unless provoked. I do have a friend who says the monkeys jumped on their boat and stole their picnic lunch, and I have to believe her. I hope they live happily ever after right where they are. It is a thrill to see them swing through the branches, care for their babies, fuss at the boaters etc. The most impressive time we saw them, there were hundreds who for some reason decided they needed to be on the other side of the river. They swung, they swam, they swung and dropped then swam--it was awesome. Of course, it was the one time the camera was forgotten. This is the only place in N. America that monkeys live in the wild. I hope they are left where they are. If you're here long enough, we'll cruise that river sometime! ( you and a few of your fellow bloggers, that is)

-- Posted by GONENOW on Thu, Oct 3, 2013, at 1:22 PM
Gonenow, we may just take you up on this offering in January! Think of the story I could write!!! Think of the photos I could take!!

The best account about these little primates was in an Ocala, Florida magazine online. There is so much MISinformation and sensationalist news reporting about them--Most of it was just useless. Then I found the good stuff, and I knew I had the true story!

You talk about the mass exodus of monkeys on that one day--I wonder if the two tribes were going to war? According to the account, the original "monkey man" brought more in at a later date, not realizing that the two tribes would not mix!

-- Posted by Madeline1 on Thu, Oct 3, 2013, at 4:46 PM
That might be. It is so sweet to see the little families together--moms cuddling babies and fathers on guard. I would not get too close to that scenario. Once, one was spotted in the trees at our dentist's office. I just missed having a little entertainment to while away the time as I savagely gripped those armrests! He moved on just before my appointment. Hope he made it back to the river bank. Was the magazine the Ocala Style?

-- Posted by GONENOW on Thu, Oct 3, 2013, at 8:02 PM
Yes, the story was printed on July 6, 2010 in the Ocala Style Magazine. Fascinating information!

We'll plan to spend an extra day in the area, in case we don't see monkeys on the first boat ride.

I'll start saving my pennies today!

This next year, I WILL get that monkey story or die trying!!!

-- Posted by Madeline1 on Sat, Oct 5, 2013, at 6:35 AM

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