Wild monkeys and manatees in North Florida

The wilderness swamps of the Ocala National Forest hold many secrets. Perhaps the best kept is the well-established thriving wild monkey population. The macaques are descendants of just 6 individuals released in 1938, kept wild and thriving until an attempt to control the population led to hundreds being taken and illegally stolen for drug trials and other medical experimentation, which continued up to 2012.

Their subsequent intense fear of humans has served them well in remaining far removed and isolated from these attempts to control their population and thus it is expected they will thrive and spread throughout the area's wilderness.

The vast karst landscape of northern Florida is pockmarked with huge limestone freshwater springs that flood the surrounding rivers and swamps with crystal clear water. Sea grasses and flowering freshwater plants thrive in the clear water sunlight and provide a huge source of food - vastly more than a brackish water swamp. This leads to unrivalled biodiversity and a greater sheer density of life than can be found almost anywhere else in the world. Only in these few wilderness karst spring swamps though.

10 miles into the swamps, wild rhesus macacques can be found traversing the mangroves for food. Having to avoid alligators, tarpons, and giant gar keeps them from crossing the river and has helped divided the four troops of 100+ individuals each.