Over 40 Monkeys Escape from South Carolina Research Facility: Here’s What Happened
On November 6, forty-three rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in Yemassee, South Carolina. Police are currently searching for the monkeys, who have not yet been recaptured as of November 7.
According to Greg Westergaard, CEO of Alpha Genesis, the escape happened after an employee accidentally left a door open while cleaning the monkeys’ enclosure. Westergaard, whose facility houses thousands of monkeys, believes the monkeys might eventually return to the center on their own.
Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center is one of the world’s largest suppliers of monkeys for biomedical research and medical testing. Its focus is on providing non-human primate models for the scientific and medical communities. The facility also recently secured a federal contract to manage a large monkey colony on Morgan Island, also known as “Monkey Island,” off the South Carolina coast.
In response to the escape, the Yemassee Police Department assured the public that there is no health risk from the monkeys. However, residents are advised to keep their doors and windows securely closed to prevent any of the monkeys from entering their homes. Anyone who spots one of the monkeys should avoid approaching it and immediately call 911.
To aid in the search, traps and thermal imaging cameras have been set up around the area. Local police are working with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and state wildlife officials to humanely locate and return the monkeys to the research center.
This is not the first time primates have escaped from Alpha Genesis. In 2016, 19 monkeys briefly broke out but were recaptured within six hours.
