beach
Missing vervet monkey spotted in Fort Lauderdale neighborhood may belong to Dania Beach sanctuary, experts say
By Joan Murray at CBS4 Miami
· June 21, 2026
· 2 min read
A six-year-old girl got the surprise of a lifetime when a monkey wandered into her backyard and accepted a banana from her hand.With her mother capturing the encounter on camera, Myah recently came face-to-face with the unexpected visitor in her Riverside Park neighborhood."It was amazing — th
Key takeaway "It was amazing — the craziest thing ever," the smiling first-grader told CBS News Miami .
Why this matters in The Miami
The appearance of a vervet monkey in a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood has raised questions about the animal's origins and how it ended up in the area. Given the presence of the Dania Beach Monkey Sanctuary, which cares for a colony of African vervet monkeys, it's possible that the monkey is indeed Maddie, a female who recently disappeared from the sanctuary. If that's the case, her journey from the sanctuary to the Riverside Park neighborhood would have taken her through a densely populated area, highlighting the potential risks of non-native species interacting with humans and the environment. As the sanctuary attempts to reunite Maddie with her family, residents should be aware of the importance of not approaching or capturing the animal, and instead contact the sanctuary directly. The situation also underscores the need for responsible animal care and management in South Florida, where exotic species can sometimes thrive in the subtropical climate.
About this story
Original reporting by CBS4 Miami . The Miami surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit CBS4 Miami . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: beach ·
Published: June 21, 2026 ·
Source: CBS4 Miami ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A six-year-old girl got the surprise of a lifetime when a monkey wandered into her backyard and accepted a banana from her hand.With her mother capturing the encounter on camera, Myah recently came face-to-face with the unexpected visitor in her Riverside Park neighborhood."It was amazing — th
When was this published? This article was first published on June 21, 2026 by CBS4 Miami and curated for The Miami readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Joan Murray at CBS4 Miami. To learn more about how The Miami selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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