Vervet monkeys are native to Africa, but were brought to the Caribbean during the colonial era, where they became established on St. Kitts and Barbados in the 17th century. They are thought to be a relatively recent introduction to St. Martin, probably from released pets that were brought from St. Kitts. The first recorded sighting I’ve read about is from the 1970s, and their numbers currently seem to be increasing. Although it can be exciting to see them, they have the potential to be very damaging to local animals, like reptiles and birds.
