A police search is underway after 40 monkeys escaped from a research facility in South Carolina on Wednesday night.
Authorities in Yemassee, Beaufort County, confirmed the animals escaped from Alpha Genesis, a company that provides nonhuman primate products and bio-research services. The company’s website states it is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the U.S., specializing in primate-based clinical trials, including brain disease treatments.
To recapture the escaped monkeys, traps have been set, and officers are using thermal imaging cameras. The Yemassee Sheriff’s Department has advised residents to keep doors and windows secured to prevent the monkeys from entering homes. If anyone encounters a monkey, authorities urge them not to approach it but to call 911.
While the specific breed of the monkeys has not been revealed, Alpha Genesis works primarily with macaque and capuchin monkeys. It is unclear what research the escaped primates were involved in or whether they may have been exposed to any diseases. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Alpha Genesis also manages a federal contract to run a colony of 3,500 monkeys on Morgan Island, off the coast of South Carolina, commonly known as "Monkey Island."
Primate escapes from the facility have occurred before, including an incident earlier this year in May and another in 2016, when 19 monkeys escaped but were recaptured within six hours. Additionally, in 2022, three monkeys escaped after a traffic accident in Pennsylvania.
Post a Comment