Why are there monkeys on Morgan Island SC?

During the summer of 1979, the rhesus monkey breeding colony of the La Parguera facility of the Caribbean Primate Research Center was shipped to Morgan Island, South Carolina. During six shipments in 1979, and three more in 1980, over 1400 animals were translocated.



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The macaques are free-ranging, forage for acorns, insects, shellfish and plants, and “are the last standing group of rhesus monkeys used for medical research in the U.S.,” according to Klopchin. NIAID maintains that no research is conducted on the island, however.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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