43 Monkeys Escape From South Carolina Research Facility, Public Told to Stay Cautious
Forty-three Rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from the Alpha Genesis research facility on Wednesday after a new employee failed to properly secure an enclosure, The Associated Press reports, citing Yemassee Police Chief Greg Alexander.
While the police chief assured the public that there is “almost no danger” to the community, he advised residents to take precautions.
The monkeys, all females weighing about 7 pounds, are too young and small to have been used for research, police said. Alpha Genesis employees are currently working to lure the escaped primates with food, according to a statement released Thursday.
The monkeys, who escaped from the facility located about 1 mile from downtown Yemassee, have traveled beyond the compound grounds. While Alpha Genesis usually handles such escapes internally, this incident has required additional efforts. The company is setting up traps and utilizing thermal imaging cameras to recapture the escaped monkeys, with the help of local police.
Residents are urged to shut their windows and doors to prevent the monkeys from entering their homes. Anyone who spots the primates is encouraged to contact 911 so that Alpha Genesis officials and police can apprehend them.
This is not the first time Alpha Genesis has experienced a primate escape. In 2018, the company was fined $12,600 by federal officials after dozens of primates escaped, and for incidents involving a lack of water and other housing issues. The company also saw escapes in 2014 and 2016, with 26 and 19 primates escaping, respectively.
Following the latest escape, the animal rights group Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN) has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture demanding an immediate inspection of the facility, a thorough investigation, and the designation of Alpha Genesis as a repeated violator. SAEN was instrumental in the 2018 fine against the company.
Alpha Genesis, which supplies primates for research worldwide, has not responded to inquiries regarding Wednesday’s escape.
