beach
Missing vervet monkey spotted in Ft. 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 sighting of a vervet monkey in a Ft. Lauderdale neighborhood has raised questions about the animal's origins and how it ended up in the area. As experts from the Dania Beach Monkey Sanctuary suspect that the monkey may be one of their own, it highlights the complexities of caring for non-native species in South Florida's unique environment. The sanctuary's location near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and its history of caring for monkeys descended from a roadside zoo and research facility add to the local significance of this story. With Miami-Dade County's own experiences with non-native species and wildlife management, the situation in Ft. Lauderdale serves as a reminder for local residents to be aware of the potential consequences of releasing or abandoning exotic animals. As the Dania Beach Monkey Sanctuary works to reunite the monkey with its family, it is crucial for residents to follow expert advice and contact the sanctuary if they spot the animal, rather than attempting to capture it themselves.
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 .
Where can I find related coverage? See more beach coverage from The Miami, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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