The Monkey Jungle began when Joseph DuMond, an animal behaviorist, released six monkeys to the wilds of South Florida. This resulted to the Monkey Jungle that we know today. The zoo has hundreds of primates and an aviary which houses parrots and birds. The zoo takes in pet birds that would not want to be cared for any longer by their owners.

The zoo has a 30-acre space where visitors can find some 30 species of monkey which includes ibbons, guenons, spider monkeys and Golden Lion Tamarins. When visitors come in the reserve, Java monkeys immediately welcomes them. Most Java monkeys run free on the reserve and they try to show off to the visitors by diving in the water to exhibit skill. The monkeys try to impress the visitors to persuade the visitors to give them fruits. Visitors also have a chance witness many orangutans in their habitat. It is the Monkey Jungle's aim to promote understanding of these primates. The reserve attracts many visitors because unlike other zoological parks, people can have some interaction with the monkeys.