Six Monkeys Still Missing After Escape From South Carolina Facility

Experts on Monday continued their search to capture six monkeys that remain at large following an escape this month from Alpha Genesis, a research compound in South Carolina.
Authorities and facility staff have been working to recover the rhesus macaques, which are bred at the facility for medical research purposes.
The escape, which occurred on November 6, saw 43 monkeys flee their enclosure after it was left improperly secured by an employee, according to the Yemassee Police Department. To date, 37 monkeys have been recaptured.
“We are very pleased that the animals recovered thus far are in such good condition, and that they show no ill effects from their outdoor adventure,” Greg Westergaard, the CEO of Alpha Genesis, said in a statement shared via Yemassee police social media channels.
In 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture fined the facility $12,600 after 26 primates escaped in 2014 and another 19 in 2016.
Residents in Yemassee are reminded to contact local authorities if they encounter the missing monkeys.
Dario Maestripieri, a behavioral scientist at the University of Chicago who wrote the 2007 book Macachiavellian Intelligence: How Rhesus Macaques and Humans Have Conquered the World, said to keep your distance. Monkeys with lower status in the hierarchy live in a constant state of fear and intimidation.
“In some ways, they kind of represent some of the worst aspects of human nature,” he said.
Rhesus macaques, which are about the size of a cat and weigh roughly 7 pounds, are known for their agility and intelligence.
Originating in South Asia and Southeast Asia, the species shares about 93 percent of its DNA with humans, making them valuable in biomedical research.
Their escape sparked interest and concern among local residents, though officials have assured the public that the animals pose no risk to human health.
Westergaard described the recaptured monkeys as being in “excellent condition” and noted that they displayed “all the outward signs of being happy, well-adjusted monkeys.”
Despite the monkeys’ temporary freedom, Alpha Genesis has maintained its commitment to recovering the remaining animals, which were last seen near the compound.
Two of the six remaining monkeys from Alpha Genesis were seen near traps on the same day other escapees were captured.
Alpha Genesis is about a mile from downtown Yemassee and roughly 50 miles northeast of Savannah, Georgia.
The facility specializes in breeding non-human primates for sale to medical institutions and researchers worldwide, a practice that has sparked ethical debates over animal welfare and the use of primates in research.
Westergaard noted that traps are being set daily and that recovery efforts will continue for “as long as it takes.”
Residents are advised to avoid the monkeys and refrain from activities such as flying drones, which could scare the animals and complicate capture efforts.
While the escape of the rhesus macaques has drawn significant attention, it is not the only animal-related incident to make headlines in South Carolina this month
On November 15, two emus—a large flightless bird native to Australia—were spotted wandering near Walterboro.
The emus, which had escaped from a private enclosure, were safely recaptured after a day-long search.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.