Charles R. Griffiths Photography

2023- silver Springs, Florida. The park has many of these monkeys, Rhesus Macaque. They are becoming quite a problem. Originally brought in for the first Tarzan movie, they didn’t think the monkeys could swim. They filmed on a little island there. They could and now there’s hundreds of them Tourists are not smart enough to stay away from them, even with plenty of warning signs posted.

If they bite you or scratch you, you could have serious problems, including die. The authorities are not sure what to do about this continuing problem.

I myself witnessed a tourist in a kayak get a little too close to a branch over the waterline, and saw a monkey go from the top of that tree down to almost get this guy in a heartbeat. Couldn’t believe how fast!

That aside, they’re magnificent to watch and film! Was nervous with my high-end equipment in a kayak, and it took a long time before I caught up to the monkeys, but eventually it paid off. Late afternoon sunlight!

I love, shooting, ice, storms, but very dangerous! 

So much fun shooting the northern lights! Ashokan reservoir, 10/10/24