Missy Williams & The Dania Beach Monkeys

Dr. Deborah “Missy” Williams joins Let’s Talk Lauderdale to share the incredible, very-Florida story of Dania Beach’s wild vervet monkey colony living on 160 acres of mangroves between Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale airport. She explains their escape from a former biomedical facility, her creation of the Dania Beach Vervet Project and Monkey Sanctuary, and why these primates must be treated as wildlife—not pets.​Hear the true origin story of Dania Beach’s vervet monkeys and their link to biomedical research.Get practical “wildlife etiquette” tips for encountering monkeys, raccoons, and other urban critters.Peek behind the scenes at an off‑grid sanctuary powered by solar panels and a 1,000‑gallon water tank.Discover how volunteers and students support daily care, enrichment, and field research.Find out how to donate, symbolically adopt a monkey, or become a Habitat Hero throughLinks from the Show: Dania Beach Vervet Project & Monkey Sanctuary: https://vervetproject.orgSouth Florida Wildlife Center: https://southfloridawildlifecenter.orgFlorida Atlantic University (FAU): https://www.fau.eduBroward College: https://www.broward.eduChase Sanctuary: https://chasesanctuary.orgLauderAle Brewery: https://www.lauderale.coJungle Queen (Fort Lauderdale): https://www.junglequeen.comFort Lauderdale Water Taxi: https://watertaxi.comLas Olas Boulevard (visitors site): https://lasolasboulevard.comThe Florida Room: https://www.floridaroomftl.com/The Righteous Gemstones (TV series): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8634332/=== MUSIC LICENSE CERTIFICATETitle: Happy Epic And Confident Corporate Background Piece To Suit Health Or DynamicItem ID: 195889930Publisher: Saowakhon BrownComposer: Saowakhon BrownLicense: Individual License, CommercialStock Media provided by TheSaoLady / Pond5 Website: https://www.letstalklauderdale.com/Let’s Talk Lauderdale is hosted by Marvin Bee & Jen Stewart.Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes Lauderdale stories and pass this episode along—because every Fort Lauderdale memory deserves an audience.