Barbados to study growth in monkey population

The government of Barbados plans to study the island's monkey population after noticing it has grown in recent years for unknown reasons.

Environmental officer Kim Downes Agard says scientists will analyze the behavior of African green monkeys and fit them with radio transmitters to determine how many exist.

Downes said late Friday that the government also plans to monitor how many monkeys are being exported from the Caribbean island to make sure the trade is sustainable.

Barbados' monkey population was last studied in 1980 after farmers complained the animals were damaging crops.

The monkeys have golden-green fur and are originally from West Africa. They were introduced to the eastern Caribbean in the 17th century.