Rescue teams capture 25 monkeys that fled Alpha Genesis research facility in South Carolina, 18 still missing | Global News
A team of searchers has successfully retrieved 25 monkeys unharmed after over 40 of the animals managed to escape from a research facility in South Carolina, according to police reports.
To recapture the 43 rhesus macaques that broke free from the Alpha Genesis site in Yemassee, thermal imaging cameras and traps have been set up. The Yemassee Police Department has urged residents in the area to secure their windows and doors to prevent the monkeys from entering homes.
All the escaped monkeys are female and weigh approximately 3kg each, as stated by the police. By Sunday, the Alpha Genesis facility team had recovered 24 of the animals, with one additional monkey recovered the day before.
The police stated on Sunday that the efforts to recover all the monkeys would continue until all the animals were safely accounted for. They noted that a significant number of monkeys were still active along the fence line of the compound, seeking shelter in trees for the night.
Alpha Genesis has assured the public that the monkeys are too young to carry any diseases and do not pose a threat to public health.
Veterinarians have conducted thorough wellness examinations on the captured monkeys, with initial reports indicating they are in good health, according to the police.
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How did they escape?
The rhesus macaques made a break for it on Wednesday evening last week when an employee at the facility accidentally left a door unlocked while feeding and checking on them. Since their escape, the monkeys have been observed exploring the outer fence of the Alpha Genesis compound, communicating with the monkeys inside.
Authorities view the interaction between the escaped monkeys and those within the facility as a positive sign. They have advised the public to refrain from entering the area and using drones, and to report any sighting of an escaped monkey to 911.
Alpha Genesis operates as a provider of “nonhuman primate products and bio-research services” with a vast area of land used for quarantine, breeding, holding, and research.
