Police Launch Search After 43 Monkeys Escape South Carolina Research Facility in Yemassee

Search efforts are currently ongoing after 43 Rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from a research facility called Alpha Genesis in Yemassee, Beaufort County, South Carolina, on Wednesday night. The escaped monkeys, all young females that have never been used for testing, have caused a stir in the community.

Alpha Genesis, a business that specializes in providing nonhuman primate products and bio-research services, confirmed to the police that the escaped monkeys "are too young to carry disease." This information has alleviated some concerns among the local residents.

Trapping and recovery efforts

As part of the recovery efforts, Alpha Genesis has set up traps and is using thermal imaging cameras in an attempt to recapture the escaped animals. The police have advised residents to keep their doors and windows secured to prevent the monkeys from entering their homes. Anyone who spots a monkey is urged to call 911 without trying to interact with the animal.

Alpha Genesis is known for carrying out clinical trials, including studies on brain disease disorder treatments. The facility claims to have one of the largest and most comprehensive nonhuman primate facilities specifically designed for monkeys in the United States.

The escaped monkeys were part of a larger cohort of 3,500 monkeys that Alpha Genesis secured through a federally funded contract to run a colony on Morgan Island, also known as Monkey Island, off the coast of South Carolina. This incident is not the first of its kind, as there have been reported cases of ape escapes in the area in the past. There are no reports of the monkeys being found yet.