An unexpected escape by 43 rhesus macaque monkeys has turned Yemassee, South Carolina, into the scene of a peculiar rescue operation. The monkeys fled the Alpha Genesis research facility on Wednesday after a door was left open, leaving staff scrambling to bring them back.
The young primates, described as small and agile, quickly disappeared into the surrounding woods. Weighing just 6-7 pounds each, the monkeys pose no health risks, according to officials, but their nervous disposition has complicated the effort to recapture them.
43 monkeys that were being used for vaccine development escaped from a lab in Yemassee, South Carolina on Wednesday and are currently on the loose. This video, taken near the facility on Wednesday afternoon, appears to show shadowy figures moving through the woods. CBS News could… pic.twitter.com/ds1tOOpTZi
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 7, 2024
🚨🇺🇸 REMINDER: 43 BIOLAB MONKEYS ARE STILL ON THE LOOSE
Forty rhesus macaques escaped from the Alpha Genesis research facility in South Carolina after an unlocked door allowed them to flee.
Staff are attempting to lure the monkeys back with food, as they roam near the… pic.twitter.com/FPaJJATpg6
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 9, 2024
Alpha Genesis staff and local authorities began deploying humane traps and thermal imaging cameras by Thursday. CEO Greg Westergaard assured the public that a passive approach was the best strategy. “We are focusing on humane methods to ensure the monkeys’ safe return,” Westergaard said. While some of the primates interacted with the traps, none were captured.
🚨#BREAKING: Officials are urgently searching for 40 Rhesus monkeys that escaped from bio-research lab
📌#Yemassee | #SouthCarolina⁰
Currently an urgent search is underway as authorities report that 40 to 43 rhesus monkeys escaped from a research bio-lab facility in the… pic.twitter.com/lSDmhnyIrm— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) November 7, 2024
On Friday, signs of progress emerged. A few monkeys were seen playing near the facility’s perimeter and engaging with those still inside. Staff monitored the interactions closely, hopeful that the playful behavior would lead to a successful recovery. Officials urged the public to avoid the area and refrain from using drones, which could frighten the animals.
43 monkeys on the loose in South Carolina town after escaping from research lab pic.twitter.com/fKqwOK86mE
— First responder (@MgdFirstComment) November 7, 2024
The shady primate testing & breeding lab where 43 monkeys escaped has raked in over $110 MILLION in taxpayer funds from Dr. Fauci, NIH, DOD, USDA & even COVID bailout funds💸🐒
Here's video from an NIH biolab that obtains monkeys from one of Alpha Genesis's tax-funded colonies https://t.co/SKkbDi21RG pic.twitter.com/CAYcMq1o6t
— White Coat Waste Project 🥼🗑️ (@WhiteCoatWaste) November 8, 2024
The community has been advised to secure their homes and report any sightings to authorities. The incident has sparked comparisons to a 2016 escape from the same facility involving 19 monkeys. Although this escape is larger in scale, officials remain optimistic that all the animals will be safely recaptured.
How tf do 43 monkey escape without help? https://t.co/Dcgw3Xy3T2
— GM_Anon (@AnonWeaponry3) November 7, 2024
Soooo… How are those 43 monkeys doing this morning? 🤔😁 pic.twitter.com/I2bzOCMyYs
— ⚓ Voice of Reason (@PausedOptimist) November 9, 2024
As the search continues, residents have expressed curiosity and concern about the unfolding events. The effort to recover the monkeys highlights the challenges of managing such an unusual situation while ensuring the animals’ wellbeing.
