NBC news reports “A police search is underway after 43 monkeys escaped from a research facility in South Carolina on Wednesday night.
Police in Yemassee, Beaufort County, said the Rhesus macaque primates escaped from Alpha Genesis, a business that provides “nonhuman primate products and bio-research services,” according to its website.
The monkeys were a group of “very young females” that have never been used for testing. An Alpha Genesis spokesperson confirmed to police that the animals “are too young to carry disease,” according to police statement.
“Alpha Genesis currently have eyes on the primates and are working to entice them with food,” police said Thursday afternoon.
Traps have also been set up and officers are using thermal imaging cameras in an attempt to recapture the animals, police said.
“Residents are strongly advised to keep doors and windows secured to prevent these animals from entering homes,” Yemassee Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. Anyone who finds a monkey should not interact with it but instead call 911, it said.
The company works with monkeys to carry out clinical trials, including on brain disease disorder treatments, and says it has “one of the largest and most comprehensive nonhuman primate facilities, designed specifically for monkeys, in the United States.”
Alpha Genesis did not immediately respond to an overnight request for comment from NBC News.
The company secured a federal contract to run a colony of 3,500 monkeys on Morgan Island off the coast of South Carolina, also known as Monkey Island.
The Post and Courier newspaper in Beaufort County reported that primate escapes have happened several times before in the area, including in May this year, and in 2016 when 19 evaded security at Alpha Genesis before they were recaptured six hours later.
In 2022, three monkeys escaped following a traffic accident in rural Pennsylvania.”
Donald P
This will give the police the perfect opportunity to write off any Bigfoot sightings as the escaped monkeys, or some other ridiculous explanation.
Richard W
Too young to carry disease?
Susan D
I’m with you! Too young to carry disease? What??
Becki O
The second guest in episode 395 talked about this place and other escape issues they have had in the past!
theresa m
I cannot believe the crap that is being spread through media. Too young to carry disease? Are you shitting me? What kind of story is it that a new employee left a door open? Come on!!!!! I don’t believe the monkeys were in one room completely uncaged and able to mix amongst themselves. It’s just beyond belief that whoever is giving our news agencies this info just think we are a bunch of buffoons and will swallow whatever they feed us. I can tell you one thing, those monkeys are tasting freedom they will never taste again. Great sadness!
Daniel A
If it has happened before why are they letting the public know this time? I am not a doctor but I don’t think a disease cares about the age of the animal that it has infected.
Lisa B
It’s not a very big town there..at least the last time I was there it wasn’t. It’s out in the boonies!
cyndie r
The very idea that we are still using non-human primates to experiment upon is disgusting. I hope they never get the monkeys back. Theresa M you are 100% correct. There is no way in hell this facility had 43 monkeys all in the same room, uncaged, so that they could mix and mingle. There is just no way that would happen.
Charles R
I hope it works out better for the monkeys than it did Peanut the Squirrel.