Nearly Four Dozen Monkeys Escape from Beaufort County Research Center, Frustrating Recapture Attempts Continue
Yemassee, S.C. – Police confirmed that nearly four dozen primates, specifically Rhesus Macaque monkeys, have escaped from the Alpha Genesis Research Center. Local authorities received a report of the escape at around 1 p.m. on Wednesday. The facility is located just off Castle Hall Road, a short distance from the small town of Yemassee.
According to the Yemassee Police, teams from Alpha Genesis are actively attempting to trap the monkeys using food. Greg Westergaard, the CEO of Alpha Genesis, explained the frustrating situation saying, “It really is just waiting and it’s frustrating because we would like to have them back sooner or later. You can’t chase them because they scatter. In this form, they should stay in the same area and we should see some come on back.”
The group of Rhesus Macaque monkeys consists entirely of young females, each weighing around six to seven pounds. Alpha Genesis has assured the public that none of these monkeys have been involved in any testing and are considered “too young” to carry any diseases. Westergaard further explained that the escape was due to “human error,” as a caretaker entered the enclosure and did not properly secure two doors behind her.
The Alpha Genesis Research Center claims to use “specific pathogen free” primate models for their research. However, the facility has faced scrutiny in the past, having received violations from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Notably, they received a warning in 2022 and a fine in 2017. The 2022 notice indicated violations related to primate housing, handling, and veterinary care. The 2017 case was brought to light by an animal rights group, which detailed a $12,600 fine for other Animal Welfare Act violations, which included a failure to secure primates.
Despite these previous issues, the facility has not had a “critical” violation since 2022. However, concerns regarding the escape continue to be raised. Dr. Lisa Jones-Engel, a primate experimentation expert from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, issued a statement pointing out that the situation “puts the public at risk and consistently fails to improve human health.” She noted that Alpha Genesis has around 6000 macaques in their colonies.
As the escape unfolds, authorities, including the police and sheriff’s department, are asking the public to steer clear of the Castle Hall Road area. The monkeys are quite skittish, and any noise or movement could hinder efforts to recapture them. If anyone happens to spot one of the monkeys, they are advised not to approach the animal and to immediately call 911.
South Carolina Congressional District 1 Representative Nancy Mace has acknowledged the situation via a statement on social media, expressing her office’s commitment to gathering information and working closely with the local sheriff’s office. “We’re diligently gathering all relevant information to keep our constituents informed regarding the recent escape of primates from Alpha Genesis Inc. in Beaufort County,” she said.
As the situation develops, many are hoping for a swift and safe recovery of the escaped monkeys and that the incident does not cause any harm to the local community.
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