Cayo Santiago is a small island just off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico due west of Vieques. It is known as Monkey Island because the USA placedsome Rhesus monkeys there in 1939 for scientific study. I heard them screeching as we anchored. We swam closer to shore and stood in chest deep water hoping to catch a glimpse because the public are not allowed on the island. Nothing. Dan did his best “Here monkey, monkey, monkey!” Nothing. I attempted to psych them out by saying loudly, “Hey, look at this!” Nothing. I even tried to imitate the screech I’d heard. Nothing. Finally, we returned to the boat and I heard a really loud screech, but saw nothing.
An hour later, a vessel flying a Swiss flag anchored near us. Six men jumped off the boat, swam closer toward the same shore, stood in knee deep water, and created a royal ruckus by serenading the monkeys with, “EE-EE, OO-OO, AH-AH!” Some of the men added dramatic monkey behaviors. And darn, if that didn’t work! In an instant, we heard a barrage of authentic monkey retorts and a lot of rustling in the trees. Before long, a host of monkeys came out of hiding to either defend their island or roll out a welcome mat. We’re not exactly sure which, but I thought I saw one Rhesus draw a line in the sand and shortly afterward the Swiss troops retreated .
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| Rhesus Monkey on Cayo Santiago (Google image) |
1 comment:
Curious George?
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