YEMASSEE, S.C. (AP) — Authorities report that four monkeys are still on the loose nearly two weeks after a group of 43 monkeys escaped from a South Carolina breeding facility that specializes in medical research. The initial escape occurred on November 6, when an employee at what the locals refer to as “the monkey farm” accidentally failed to secure their enclosure, letting the primates slip away.
Since the incident, the recovery efforts have been ongoing. On Monday, two more rhesus macaques were captured near the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee, increasing the total number of recovered monkeys to 39, according to CEO Greg Westergaard, who shared this information via a social media post from the police. The recovered monkeys are reported to be in good health, and the remaining four are believed to be close together, possibly in an area adjacent to the facility’s property.
Westergaard explained that the enclosure is designed with three gates, which require a worker to securely lock one gate before unlocking another. Unfortunately, all three gates and their latches were left unsecured, enabling the monkeys to escape. He described the event as an unintentional mistake. Ongoing efforts to capture the remaining monkeys are expected to continue.
Alpha Genesis, located about a mile from downtown Yemassee and approximately 50 miles northeast of Savannah, Georgia, has committed to recovering all the escaped monkeys, no matter how long it takes. The monkeys, which are all female and about the size of housecats, weigh roughly 7 pounds (3 kilograms).
The rhesus macaque species has a notable connection to humans; scientific research on monkeys dates back to the late 1800s. Researchers believe that humans and rhesus macaques share a common ancestor that existed around 25 million years ago and have about 93% of the same DNA, illustrating significant biological similarities.
Health officials and law enforcement have assured the public that these monkeys pose no threat to public health. Alpha Genesis breeds these monkeys for supply to medical institutions and researchers. Residents are advised to keep their distance if they encounter any of the escaped monkeys and to refrain from flying drones in the area, as the monkeys are skittish and might be frightened by their presence.
