An island off the coast of South Carolina is causing a stir, with its population of more than 4,000 wild monkeys.
Morgan Island is located about 80 miles south of Charleston and the 4,489-acre outcrop consists of a mix of creeks, marshes, and high ground covered with mature trees and palms.
On TikTok, videos taken from passing boats offer a glimpse of what the mysterious island is like, with troops of rampaging monkeys and signs on the sandy shore warning “do not feed, approach, disturb, disturb or harm the animals.”
The signs also state that “violators will be prosecuted.”
Rhesus monkeys are not native to the island, and 1,400 were sent there in 1979 following a herpes outbreak at a primate research center in Puerto Rico.
An island off the coast of South Carolina is causing a stir with its population of more than 4,000 wild monkeys.
Morgan Island is located about 80 miles south of Charleston and the 4,489-acre outcrop consists of a mix of creeks, marshes, and high ground covered with mature trees and palms.
Rhesus monkeys are not native to the island, and 1,400 were sent there in 1979 following a herpes outbreak at a primate research center in Puerto Rico.
While the island is owned by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the colony is managed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The colony has since grown, but numbers have been largely contained due to the fact that up to 600 monkeys are taken for animal testing each year.
According to the Post and courier“no testing is done on the island itself” and “instead, the monkeys are sent to researchers working on vaccines and medical treatments.”
While the island is owned by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the colony is managed by the federal National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
A private company is hired to care for the animals, whose contract is worth several million dollars a year.
The public is prohibited from setting foot on the island and it is only accessible to trained researchers.
But for those who wish to get closer to the island, there are several providers offering boat excursions, with the route running around the periphery.
Tide tours in low areas He arranges a tour of Morgan Island for $250 plus tip and says it’s one of his most requested trips.
The tour company notes: “Morgan Island itself has a fascinating history and seeing rhesus monkeys in the lowland landscape is nothing short of surreal.”
The public is prohibited from setting foot on the island and it is only accessible to trained researchers.
For those who wish to get closer to the island, there are several companies that organize boat excursions, and the route runs around the periphery.
A private company is hired for the actual care of the animals, whose contract is worth several million dollars a year.
To date, the tour has been considered “excellent” by all critics in tripadvisor.
One tourist wrote: ‘We took a trip to Morgan Island to see the monkeys. Great trip, lots of monkeys.’
Another satisfied customer echoed similar sentiments, writing: ‘My wife and I were celebrating our 30th anniversary.
‘A few years ago we heard about Monkey Island and we have been trying to see the monkeys.
‘Captain Scott was just amazing. He set the date and time, took us to the monkey island, locked the boat and dropped anchor.
‘Within 10 or 15 minutes, the monkeys appeared out of nowhere and within another 10 or 15 minutes there were dozens of monkeys around us. It was a memory we will never forget.”
Drone footage uploaded by a Low Country Tidal Tours passenger reveals there is a jetty on the island for researchers to dock.
There are also several outbuildings for performing routine veterinary care and storing necessary supplies.
In addition to boat tours, several area helicopter companies offer trips around Morgan Island, so passengers can get an aerial view of the monkeys swinging in the trees below.