Authorities in South Carolina have urged residents to secure their homes after 43 young rhesus macaques escaped from an Alpha Genesis research facility in Beaufort County. The Yemassee Police Department reported the escape on Thursday, deploying thermal cameras and traps in an effort to recapture the primates, who weigh approximately 6-7 pounds and have not been used in testing due to their age.
The escape happened when a caretaker accidentally left an enclosure door unsecured, allowing the monkeys to follow each other out, explained Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard. While attempts are underway to lure the monkeys back with food, residents have been cautioned to avoid contact and call 911 if they spot any of the animals.
In an update, the Yemassee Police assured the public that there is no health risk from the escaped monkeys, who had previously lived in a free-range environment on South Carolina’s Morgan Island. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the low risk of disease transmission, provided the animals are not approached.
Alpha Genesis, known for breeding monkeys for global biomedical research, has faced previous escapes, including a 2016 incident involving 19 monkeys. The facility, which also manages a large colony of rhesus macaques on Morgan Island, continues efforts to locate and safely recapture the escaped primates.
