The island is owned by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR. The monkeys that live on the island are owned by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and used for public health research.
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The S.C. Department of Natural Resources owns Morgan Island, but the federal National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is responsible for the colony itself. Alpha Genesis Inc. will be responsible for feeding the monkeys, providing veterinary aid and any other care services.
Since these monkeys prefer not to swim, they can't come back to land. Over the years, the island has been battered by storms, causing disrepair. “There's not a whole lot of protection from the weather,” said John Pricher, Citrus County tourist development director.
As iconic as the islands' pristine beaches and tropical forests, the 60,000-plus green monkeys of St.Kitts and Nevis are a quintessential part of the Caribbean experience for many visitors. But while these photogenic mischief-makers might charm tourists, they pose serious threats to the twin-island Federation.