Animals often behave in ways that humans can’t quite understand. One thing that seems universally true is that if a group of animals suddenly starts moving in the same direction, it’s usually smart to follow them. Chances are, they’re fleeing from something.
That’s exactly what happened in Silver Springs, Florida, when a group of monkeys began leaping into the water. A woman who was kayaking nearby noticed one monkey dive in, so she pulled out her phone to record the unusual sight. Before long, more and more monkeys began jumping in, completely unbothered by the people already in the water.
At first, you might think there aren’t that many monkeys. But then, their numbers start to grow fast. Before long, it looks like the sky is raining monkeys. The woman filming couldn’t stop laughing as she watched the wild scene unfold. As more of them appeared, she asked, “What the heck is making them all jump?”
That’s a good question. Personally, I would have started paddling away and saved the questions for later because these monkeys didn’t look like they were jumping in for a swim. They were clearly trying to make it to the other side. Since the video cuts off there, we don’t get to find out if they were actually running from something or not. But if they were, I’d really like to know what it was.
People Reacting to the Chaotic Scene in Florida
People had mixed reactions to what happened in Florida, and not everyone was as amused as the woman who filmed it. Many found the scene both strange and a little unsettling. One viewer wrote, “I would be terrified because what the hell are they running from?” She went on to explain, “Exactly, like if it was just one or a few monkeys playing in the water, cool. But they ALL jumped in and swam in the same direction, away from that side of the river. It’s like they’re running or swimming from something.”
Another person agreed, saying, “[expletive] I’m jumping in too, because what are they running from?” That same thought echoed through the comments, with one viewer adding, “Usually, if something is fleeing the scene, you should probably start running too.”
Not everyone was scared of the Florida monkeys. Some people tried to explain why they might be doing this. One person wrote, “I watch the monkeys of Cambodia on YouTube. They do this too. They love the water and they love jumping from heights into the water.” Hopefully, that was the real reason.
One woman was so focused on something else entirely that she didn’t even know Florida had monkeys. “Wild monkeys in Florida? I don’t know anything about the world,” she wrote. Another person added, “Well, I was today years old when I found out Florida has wild monkeys.” Glad to know I’m not the only one who didn’t realize that.
While some people found the video joyful, others still weren’t so sure. “I’d be absolutely terrified,” one commenter said. But since no danger appeared and the monkeys seemed peaceful, there’s really no reason to be that scared.
