MIAMI — Millions of humans fled Florida ahead of Hurricane Irma, but just a few miles from the state's southern coast, 300 monkeys are preparing to ride it out.

The primates live inside Monkey Jungle, a 15-acre preserve covered with banyan and bamboo trees. Visitors can walk through trails and get up close to one gorilla, one orangutan, five capuchins and dozens of Java macaques and squirrel monkeys.

Staffers spent the week preparing for Irma, loading up on food and supplies for themselves and the monkeys. They also brought in a generator to maintain power for the 9-foot tall, electrified fence that keeps the monkeys from roaming outside.

Sharon DuMond was relieved to see Irma veering farther west on Saturday. But she won't leave the family business, which was started by her grandfather in 1933, until the storm passes and she knows her monkeys are safe.

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"You do get attached to them, like they're your kids," DuMond said while checking on the park Saturday. "I feel like I run a day care for 300 kids. They have the same requirements."

South Florida saw a horde of animals break free when Hurricane Andrew tore through the area 25 years ago. Monkeys escaped from research facilities, Miami MetroZoo lost all of its birds when its aviary tumbled, and Floridians still tell tales of the llamas, vipers, cougars, gazelles and exotic animals that sprung loose.

Andrew destroyed most of the infrastructure of Monkey Jungle. "It was just a pile of sticks," DuMond said.

But DuMond said that they didn't lose a single monkey following Andrew. Some took cover in the various sinkholes around the property. Some sought shelter under fallen tree limbs, and a group of them hung out under a wooden roof that collapsed on a row of chairs.

"They're very territorial," DuMond said. "As long as you provide them with food, they're not going anywhere."

She said they are prepared for any breaks in their protection. DuMond has contractors on standby who can repair the cages, walkways or the electrified fence that surrounds the property.

The most complicated preparation, however, was forcing their western lowland gorilla, King, and their orangutan, Mei, into their shelters.

The two usually roam free in separate, outdoor spaces, occasionally opting to venture inside to pass the night. But this week, park staff wrangled them into their heavily fortified cages, which is no easy task when dealing with hard-headed apes.

On Saturday, Mei paced around her cage, clearly unhappy with having to stay inside. King was more relaxed, sitting back and watching Snow White on a flatscreen TV. Park staff set up a button for him to press to swap between DVDs. His favorites are Moana, Tarzan and The Lion King.

While DuMond will remain on high alert until Irma passes through, she said her monkeys seem far more relaxed.

"They seem to not really care too much," she said. "To them, it's just a rainy day."