The mysterious island in South Carolina which is off limits to visitors but home to 4,000 WILD MONKEYS – with hundreds of the primates plucked each year for animal testing

By James On Feb 22, 2024

An island off the coast of South Carolina is causing a stir, with a population of more than 4,000 wild monkeys.

Morgan Island is located about 80 miles south of Charleston and the 4,489-acre outcrop consists of a mix of creeks, swamps and high ground dotted with mature trees and palms.

On TikTok, videos taken from passing boats offer a glimpse of what the mysterious island looks like, with troops of monkeys running riot and signs on the sandy shoreline warning “do not feed, approach, disturb, molest or injure the animals.”

The signs also state that ‘violators will be prosecuted.’

The rhesus macaques are not native to the island and 1,400 were shipped there in 1979 after a herpes outbreak at a primate research center in Puerto Rico.

An island off the coast of South Carolina is causing a stir, with a population of more than 4,000 wild monkeys

Morgan Island is located about 80 miles south of Charleston and the 4,489-acre outcrop consists of a mix of creeks, swamps and high ground dotted with mature trees and palm trees.

The rhesus macaques are not native to the island and 1,400 were shipped there in 1979 after a herpes outbreak at a primate research center in Puerto Rico.

Although the island is owned by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the colony is managed by the federal National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

@daretogotravel
Morgan Island is forbidden to visitors 🐒 Where is a forbidden place you would like to visit? Morgan Island is a 4,489 hectare marsh island in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is also known as Monkey Island because of the colony of free-ranging rhesus monkeys, established in 1979. The island is uninhabited and the only people allowed on the island are researchers who tag the monkeys and remove 500 of them from their homes each year. for medical tests. #Trip #Learning #Educational #animals #Adventure The monkeys were brought to Morgan Island after an outbreak of the herpes B virus at a research facility in Puerto Rico. The island was chosen because it is isolated and has a similar climate to Puerto Rico. The monkeys have thrived on the island and their population has grown to more than 4,000. The monkeys on Morgan Island are used for a variety of medical research, including studies on vaccines, polio, AIDS and bioterrorism. The research is important for the development of new treatments and vaccines for these diseases. The island is off-limits to the public and strict rules apply to protect the monkeys. Visitors are not allowed to set foot on the island and boats are not allowed to come within 500 meters of the shore. Morgan Island is a unique and important place. The monkeys on the island help advance medical research and deserve to be protected. Here are some additional facts about Morgan Island: The island is located in the ACE Basin, a protected estuary that is home to a variety of wildlife. The monkeys on Morgan Island are rhesus monkeys of Indian origin, a type of Old World monkey. The monkeys roam freely, which means they are not kept in cages. They live in the forests and swamps on the island. The monkeys are being monitored by researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The monkeys are used for a variety of medical research, including studies on vaccines, polio, AIDS and bioterrorism. The island is off-limits to the public and strict rules apply to protect the monkeys.
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The colony has grown since then, but numbers have remained largely under control thanks to up to 600 monkeys being taken away for animal testing each year.

According to the Post and courier‘there is no testing on the island itself’ and ‘instead, monkeys are sent to researchers working on vaccines and medical treatments.’

Although the island is owned by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the colony is managed by the federal National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

A private company is hired to actually care for the animals, with this contract worth several million dollars per year.

The public is prohibited from setting foot on the island and it is only accessible to trained researchers.

But for those who want to get close to the island, there are several providers who organize boat trips, where the route runs along the edge.

Lowland tidal tours runs a Morgan Island tour for $250 plus tip and says it is one of their most requested trips.

The tour company notes: ‘Morgan Island itself has a fascinating story and seeing rhesus monkeys in the lowland landscape is nothing short of surreal.’

The public is prohibited from setting foot on the island and it is only accessible to trained researchers

For those who want to get close to the island, there are several providers who organize boat trips, where the route runs along the edge

A private company is hired to actually care for the animals, with this contract worth several million dollars per year

So far the tour has been rated ‘excellent’ by all reviewers Tripadvisor.

One tourist wrote: ‘We went to Morgan Island to see the monkeys. Great trip, lots of monkeys.’

Another satisfied customer echoed similar sentiments, writing, “My wife and I were celebrating our 30th anniversary.

‘We heard about Monkey Island a few years ago and tried to see the monkeys.

“Captain Scott was just great. He set the date and time, took us to Monkey Island, locked the boat and dropped anchor.

‘Within 10-15 minutes monkeys came out of nowhere and another 10-15 minutes there were dozens of monkeys all around us. It was a memory we will never forget.’

Drone footage uploaded by a Low Country Tidal Tours passenger shows there is a jetty on the island where researchers can dock.

There are also several outbuildings for performing routine veterinary care and storing necessary supplies.

In addition to boat tours, several helicopter companies in the area offer tours around Morgan Island, allowing passengers to get a bird’s-eye view of the monkeys swinging in the trees below.