Forty-three monkeys escaped from a medical research facility in South Carolina, but local authorities have assured the public there is “almost no danger.” Yemassee Police Chief Gregory Alexander stated Thursday morning that the monkeys pose no threat, explaining that they are not carrying any diseases and are generally harmless, though a bit skittish.
The escape occurred Wednesday when a new employee at the Alpha Genesis facility failed to properly secure an enclosure. The monkeys, all female and weighing about 7 pounds (3 kg), are young and small, and have not yet been used in research.
Alpha Genesis employees have been monitoring the escaped monkeys and are attempting to lure them back using food. While the company typically manages escapes on site, these monkeys made it out of the compound and into an area about 1 mile (1.6 km) from downtown Yemassee.
Yemassee Police Chief Gregory Alexander explained that the handlers are familiar with the monkeys and typically can lure them back using fruit or treats. However, rounding up these particular escapees is proving more challenging. Alpha Genesis is taking charge of the effort, setting up traps and utilizing thermal imaging cameras to help capture the monkeys as they roam.
Yemassee Police Chief Gregory Alexander reassured the public that there is “almost no danger” from the escaped monkeys. He advised local residents to keep their windows and doors closed to prevent the monkeys from finding a hiding spot inside their homes. If anyone spots the primates, they are urged to call 911 so authorities and company officials can work to capture them.
Alpha Genesis, which supplies primates for research worldwide, operates its facility about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Savannah, Georgia. The company did not respond to an inquiry regarding the recent escape.
In 2018, Alpha Genesis was fined $12,600 by federal officials after several primates escaped and for failing to provide adequate care, including incidents where some monkeys were left without water and concerns over how they were housed.
In 2014, 26 primates escaped from the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee, followed by another 19 in 2016, according to officials.
The animal rights group Stop Animal Exploitation Now has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture urging the agency to send an inspector to Alpha Genesis for a thorough investigation, treating the facility as a repeat offender. The group had also played a role in the 2018 fine against the company.
Michael Budkie, the executive director of the group, criticized the facility’s negligence in allowing the recent escape, stating in the letter that the incident not only endangered the animals but also posed a risk to the safety of South Carolina residents.