The Brief
- A monkey, believed to be a rhesus macaque, was spotted in Mount Dora, making it the latest monkey sighting reported in Central Florida.
- The monkey was seen near Gilbert Park and the Lakeside Inn before leaving the area prior to wildlife officials arriving.
- Rhesus macaques, an invasive species with established populations in Florida, have spread beyond Silver Springs and can pose risks to wildlife and humans.
MOUNT DORA, Fla. – A monkey believed to be a rhesus macaque was spotted in Mount Dora, marking the latest reported sighting of the non-native primates in Central Florida.
The animal was first seen near Gilbert Park before later appearing on the grounds of the historic Lakeside Inn, according to witnesses.
In a social media post, the inn said staff immediately contacted wildlife authorities after spotting the monkey.…