Herpes-infected monkeys invaded Florida, wildlife officials said, Yahoo! reported Sunday.
According to the officials, hundreds of rare wild Rhesus monkeys, some carrying the herpes B virus, are on the loose in Florida after a tour guide allegedly brought the sprightly mammals to the state a long time ago.
New York Post reported that three pairs of Rhesus monkeys were brought to the Silver River State Park near Ocala in the 1930s by a tour operator named Colonel Tooey following the intense enthusiasm people showed towards a 'Tarzan' flick released during that time.
Early reports stated that Tooey tried to keep the monkeys sequestered on an island, but the critters managed to develop the skill to swim enabling them to easily reach the mainland and putting down roots as far as Jacksonville, hundred miles away.
As of late there are about 1,000 feral Rhesus monkeys living in Florida, and state officials have caught more than 700 of these monkeys in the past decade.
Most of the 700 monkeys caught tested positive for the herpes B virus, which is now largely considered a public health hazard, wildlife officials said.
Current Silver River tour operator Captain Tom O'Lenick, 65, defended the monkeys, adding that people love them.
"Everybody who comes on the river for a tour wants to see the monkeys," O'Lenick said. "From my point of view, as a naturalist, I think the planet changes naturally and species do move around, whether that is by man or other means."
Meanwhile, British Wildlife Photographer Graham McGeorge, 42, said, "Just like any other wild animal you need to give them space."
Health reports stated that although herpes B virus does not cause serious symptoms in animals, it can lead to dangerous conditions in humans such as neurological impairment or fatal encephalomyelitis, an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated that Florida's Rhesus monkeys are known to act aggressively towards humans, adding that they are now concerned that these animals could spread the virus or inflict other injuries to man. They are now warning tourists and natives to keep their distance from the critters.
Recently, Florida's Everglades National Park launched the '2013 Python Challenge' in January, a contest that allowed people to kill as many Burmese pythons as they could in exchange for money, after the said snakes terrorized the state.
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