Last week, 43 Rhesus macaques escaped from a medical research facility in South Carolina due to a door not being fully secured by an employee during routine checks. Since then, 24 of the monkeys have been safely recovered with the help of the Yemassee Police Department and Alpha Genesis personnel. Traps have been set up in the area where the monkeys have been spotted, and thermal imaging cameras are being utilized to locate any remaining escaped monkeys. Residents have been advised to keep their doors and windows secured to prevent the animals from entering homes and should contact 911 if they are spotted.
The behavior of the escaped monkeys has aided in recovery efforts, with the primates observed exploring the facility’s outer fence line and interacting with monkeys still inside the compound. However, this incident has raised concerns about the safety record and operational practices of Alpha Genesis, particularly in light of previous USDA inspections that revealed issues with enclosures and facility practices. Past incidents included monkey deaths due to incorrect socialization procedures and poorly designed infrastructure, leading to changes in the facility’s standard operating procedures.
This recent escape is not the first for Alpha Genesis, as a similar incident occurred in 2016 with 19 monkeys escaping their enclosures. However, those primates were all successfully retrieved within six hours. The remaining escaped monkeys are currently active near the facility’s fence line and in surrounding trees, with the recovered animals reported to be in good health. Despite the escape, officials have reassured the public that the monkeys pose no public health risk due to their size and nature.
Alpha Genesis, which specializes in nonhuman primate products and bio-research services, is committed to continuing recovery efforts until all the animals are safely returned to the facility. The company maintains one of the largest nonhuman primate facilities in the United States, supporting research on progressive brain disorders and conducting clinical trials. It remains to be seen how this incident will impact Alpha Genesis’s operations and reputation, as authorities, and the facility continue to work towards the safe retrieval of the remaining escaped monkeys.
