Puerto Rico, known for its white sand beaches, is one of the famous vacation destinations for tourists all over the world.

While Isla Verde and San Juan are the perfect spots for domestic and foreign visitors to spend some chill time, a small island located in the northern west was found to host one of the oldest living primates — rhesus macaque monkeys or Macaca mulatta.

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Cayo Santiago, created in 1930s, serves as a home for these wild primates. Richard Rawlins, Cayo Santiago's former director of research, said that the main reason for putting these monkeys in one island is for easy access, NPR has learned.

It has been established in early studies that monkeys and humans share a large percentage in genes. This is why they are so important in not just one, but all kinds of research.

Scientists believe that rhesus monkeys, one of the world's oldest living species, have exceptional cognitive abilities. This being said, the monkeys are perfect subjects for behavioural and psychological studies.

Researchers all over the world go to this island to conduct studies on ecology, cognition and primate behaviour, UPI reported. Recently, a group of international scientists went there and made some observations to better understand how neural processes can become a factor in decision-making.

Caribbean Primate Research Centre study leader, Angelina Ruiz, said that this population is one of a kind because they are sterling. They have not been crossbred with other species.

While these monkeys serve their purpose in the field of research, it has been reported that the colony faces a threat.

Locals sneak tourist into the island, and sometimes, they have tuberculosis and other illnesses that they can transmit to the monkeys. These diseases can spread quickly, and wipe out the entire colony.

At the same time, macaques post a threat to humans. They are natural carriers of herpes B virus, which is pretty much deadly to humans. According to the report of Latin America Herald Tribune, these monkeys also carry rabies and dengue fever.

Despite the threats, researchers said that it is still a public property and they can't legally prevent people from coming. A bill has been already proposed by the Puerto Rican government to make this facility private.

TagsScientist, monkeys, Wild Primates, Puerto Rico, Research