It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a… monkey?
Stunning footage captured by Trenda Kitchen on October 16 showed how dozens of monkeys unexpectedly leapt from trees into the water below at a Florida state park.
Kitchen was kayaking at Silver Springs State Park in Marion County, Florida – about 40 miles from Gainesville – when the curious moment broke out.
She said incredulously: ‘It’s raining monkeys.
‘This is crazy.’
The spectacle unfolded as Kitchen calmly paddled through the park, unaware that she was about to witness monkey after monkey cannonballing into the same water she was in.
In the video, the monkeys can be seen launching themselves one after another from the treetops into the water.
The animals caused loud thuds and big splashes as they careened into the blue below.
Footage captured by Trenda Kitchen on October 16 showed dozens of monkeys jumping from trees into the water below
The curious event happened at Silver Springs State Park in Marion County, Florida
The animals caused loud thuds and big splashes as they pluged into the water
While the primates plummeted into the water, the woman cackled to herself.
‘They’re jumping in,’ Kitchen laughed. ‘Look at them all.’
The monkeys at Silver Springs Park belong to the species Rhesus macaque, according to National Geographic.
Its origins stem back to the 1930s, when the primates were actually the first monkeys brought to Florida.
A man identified only as Colonel Tooey released the monkeys on an island in the Silver River, hoping to boost Florida’s tourism.
More than 300 monkeys, which are ‘breeding rapidly,’ can now be found in the park.
The primates are usually afraid of humans but can be aggressive towards people if fed.
The monkeys at the park belong to the species Rhesus macaque (Stock photo of Rhesus macaque family)
The monkeys first arrived to Florida in the 1930s
They are considered to be ‘strong swimmers,’ as Kitchen witnessed.
She continued to narrate the stunning spectacle while the monkeys poured down: ‘These are all monkeys going in. Oh my god.’
The monkeys found at the park carry a deadly form of herpes, which rarely spreads to humans but is fatal when it does.
After more than 30 seconds of macaques flying around, a monkey dove into the water close to Kitchen.
‘Go on little one,’ she said, keeping her distance.
As the video ended, the monkeys appeared to calm down and move towards the shore – but Kitchen was left with the question on everyone’s mind.
She wondered aloud: ‘What the heck is making them all jump?’
