In brief
After an unfortunate oversight at a primate research facility in South Carolina led to the escape of 43 rhesus macaques, local authorities are mobilizing to safely recapture the monkeys. The community has been advised to stay vigilant as efforts continue to entice the animals back without direct human intervention.
In a bizarre turn of events, 43 rhesus macaque monkeys have escaped from a research facility in South Carolina, prompting a focused search by local authorities. The incident occurred at Alpha Genesis, a company specializing in breeding primates for medical research, when a keeper accidentally left the enclosure door open. The monkeys, all young females weighing approximately 7 pounds (3.2 kg), quickly fled into the surrounding woods in the Lowcountry region.Local police, including the Yemassee Police Department, have urgently requested that residents keep doors and windows closed and report any monkey sightings. The police have confirmed that the search for the skittish creatures is underway, with traps being set and thermal imaging cameras employed to locate them. Authorities advised the public, “Please do not attempt to approach these animals under any circumstances.”The CEO of Alpha Genesis, Greg Westergaard, expressed his frustration over the incident while hoping the monkeys would voluntarily return to the facility. He detailed the escape, revealing that out of an initial group of 50 monkeys, 43 had run off while the remaining seven stayed behind. The search efforts face some challenges due to inclement weather, which has driven the monkeys to seek shelter.Westergaard is optimistic that the monkeys will be drawn back by their favorite food, apples, which are not readily available in the woods. Historically, this is not the first instance of primate escapes at the facility; previous incidents in 2016 and 2014 involved similar escapes, though those monkeys were swiftly recaptured.The small town of Yemassee, with a population of less than 1,100, has seen its local congresswoman, Nancy Mace, engage the community through social media, vowing to keep constituents informed about the escape situation. While macaques can be aggressive, local law enforcement has reassured the public of their safety, stating, “There is almost no danger to the public.” As efforts ramp up, the hope remains that the escapees will soon be safely returned to their habitat.
