In brief
Authorities are searching for 43 young female monkeys that escaped from a South Carolina research lab following an accidental pen opening. Despite their mischievous nature, officials maintain there is little danger to the public.
Police in South Carolina are currently engaged in a frantic search for 43 rhesus macaques that escaped from the Alpha Genesis research facility due to a keeper accidentally leaving their pen open. This incident took place in Beaufort County, in an area known as the Lowcountry, where the young female monkeys have been reported to be on the run.Authorities have issued warnings to local residents, advising them to keep doors and windows securely closed and to report any sightings of the monkeys immediately. These escapees weigh approximately 7 pounds (3.2 kg) each and are described as skittish. According to the Yemassee Police Department, the research facility is working diligently to entice the group back using food. Officers are utilizing traps and thermal imaging cameras in their recovery efforts.Despite their wild nature, police have assured the public that these young monkeys have not yet been subjected to medical testing and are deemed too young to carry diseases. CEO of Alpha Genesis, Greg Westergaard, expressed frustration over the escape, stating that he hopes the monkeys will naturally return to their facility. The primates, now foraging in nearby woods, are being drawn in by the prospect of food, although Westergaard noted they prefer apples—a resource not readily available in their current environment.Efforts to retrieve the monkeys have been hindered by inclement weather, complicating the search. Interestingly, this isn't the first time Alpha Genesis has faced issues with escaped primates; previous incidents in 2014 and 2016 involved 26 and 19 monkeys respectively, though they were swiftly recaptured.Yemassee, a small town with a population of less than 1,100, has seen heightened attention, including responses from local representatives. Congresswoman Nancy Mace has promised her office is actively gathering information to keep the community updated about the escape.While rhesus macaques have a reputation for aggression, Yemassee Police Chief Gregory Alexander reassured residents during a Thursday news conference that "there is almost no danger to the public". In a related incident, a Japanese macaque named Honshu famously escaped from a Scottish zoo earlier this year and was located after days on the run.
