A surprising incident unfolds as 40 monkeys escape from a medical laboratory in the United States, sparking concerns over safety and animal welfare. Authorities are working to locate the primates.
Residents of a town in South Carolina have been advised to steer clear of potentially infectious monkeys following the escape of 40 animals from a nearby research facility.
On Wednesday, the monkeys managed to escape from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center located in Yemassee, roughly 60 miles (100 km) southwest of Charleston.
“Traps have been established throughout the area, and the Yemassee Police Department is actively using thermal imaging cameras to track down the animals,” reported the police on Wednesday evening. “Residents are strongly urged to keep doors and windows locked to prevent these animals from entering their homes.”
Alpha Genesis operates its Yemassee facility for breeding monkeys intended for medical research and testing. According to the company’s website, they offer “nonhuman primate products and bio-research services.” These monkeys are subsequently utilized in clinical trials targeting various diseases.
The situation was ambiguous regarding whether the primates that escaped on Wednesday had been used as test subjects or could potentially spread a contagion. Consequently, authorities are advising people to exercise extreme caution around these animals. If anyone encounters one of the monkeys, they should avoid interaction and promptly contact law enforcement, according to the Yemassee Sheriff’s Department.
The breeds of the escaped primates have not been identified by either the police or Alpha Genesis. The company has experience working with rhesus, macaque, and capuchin monkeys.
According to the local newspaper, the Beaufour Post and Courier, this marks the second mass escape of monkeys from Alpha Genesis in under ten years. In 2016, nineteen monkeys were missing for approximately six hours before being recaptured and returned.
In 2023, the US government awarded a contract to Alpha Genesis for managing “Monkey Island,” a monkey colony located off the coast of South Carolina that houses approximately 3,500 primates.
