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Monkeys Cannonball into Florida Waters, Kayaker Captures Hilarious Moment
28 Oct
Summary
- Kayaker records dozens of monkeys jumping into water at Silver Springs State Park
- Monkeys are rhesus macaques, an invasive species in Florida
- Monkeys may have been searching for food, escaping danger, or playing
On October 16th, 2025, a kayaker named Trenda Kitchen was exploring Silver Springs State Park in Florida when she witnessed an unexpected and delightful sight. Dozens of rhesus monkeys, an invasive species in the area, were seen jumping from the trees and cannonballing into the water.
Kitchen captured the hilarious moment on video, exclaiming "It's raining monkeys!" as the primates leapt from the branches. At least a dozen monkeys were involved in the impromptu pool party, with one even landing near Kitchen's kayak, much to her amusement.
Rhesus monkeys are known for their swimming abilities, able to take to the water as early as two days old. Researchers believe the monkeys may have been searching for food, escaping danger, regulating their body temperature, or simply playing when Kitchen stumbled upon the unexpected scene.
The rhesus monkeys were first introduced to the Silver River in the 1930s, when a commercial riverboat captain released six of them on an island to boost tourism. Over the decades, the monkeys have thrived, with their population growing to around 400 by the 1980s. While the monkeys can be considered pests, their antics have also provided unexpected entertainment for visitors to the state park.
