Authorities in South Carolina are urging residents in Beaufort County to keep their doors and windows locked after 43 young rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from a research facility late Wednesday night. The primates, all young females weighing around 6-7 pounds, broke free from an enclosure at Alpha Genesis, a research facility in Yemassee, after a caretaker accidentally left a door unsecured. The Yemassee Police Department confirmed the escape Thursday, warning that while the animals pose no health risk to the public, they are “skittish” (CBS) and unfamiliar with the outside environment. South Carolina released a statement saying, “Residents are strongly advised to keep doors and windows secured to prevent these animals from entering homes,” (CBS). Authorities have cautioned the public against approaching or attempting to capture any monkeys, instead urging anyone who spots one to call 911 immediately.
Alpha Genesis staff and law enforcement are actively working to locate the fugitive primates, using thermal imaging cameras to detect their heat signatures and setting up traps baited with food to entice them back. Greg Westergaard, CEO of Alpha Genesis, expressed his hope for a swift resolution, calling the incident “frustrating.” (CBS)
“It’s really like follow-the-leader,” (CBS) Westergaard explained, that the group of monkeys, typically housed together, quickly followed one another out after the first few exited. Seven monkeys stayed behind, but 43 managed to roam freely into the surrounding areas. Alpha Genesis, which provides nonhuman primate products and bio-research services worldwide, primarily houses rhesus, cynomolgus, and capuchin monkeys for scientific research. According to its website, the company’s research includes clinical trials on progressive brain disorders.
The Yemassee Police Department assured the community that there is no risk of disease associated with the escaped monkeys, given their age and limited exposure. Alpha Genesis confirmed that the monkeys are too young for testing and have not been used in any research trials.
This incident is not the first time monkeys have escaped from Alpha Genesis. Eight years ago, 19 monkeys managed to escape but were recaptured within six hours. Earlier this year, another group of primates briefly went missing. The facility also maintains a federal contract to oversee a colony of 3,500 rhesus macaques on nearby Morgan Island, known locally as “Monkey Island.” (NBC)
In 2022, a similar situation occurred in Pennsylvania when a truck carrying lab monkeys crashed, allowing several animals to escape before all were eventually accounted for.
Local authorities, in partnership with Alpha Genesis personnel, remain hopeful that the monkeys will return to their enclosure safely. Until then, residents are reminded to stay vigilant and report any sightings immediately.
