The small town of Yemassee, South Carolina, has been the center of an unusual saga this week as officials search for 43 monkeys that escaped a research facility. The incident occurred Wednesday when a door at Alpha Genesis was left unsecured, allowing the rhesus macaque monkeys to flee.
Described as young females weighing about 6-7 pounds, the monkeys quickly disappeared into the nearby woods. Officials confirmed the animals pose no health risks, as they are too young to carry disease. However, their skittish nature has made the effort to recover them particularly challenging.
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
By Thursday, Alpha Genesis and local authorities had implemented a plan to bring the monkeys back. Using thermal imaging cameras and humane traps baited with food, they hoped to entice the primates to return. CEO Greg Westergaard emphasized the need for patience, explaining that “a passive, humane approach is the best way to recapture the animals.”
On Friday, staff observed encouraging signs. Some monkeys returned to the facility’s fence line, interacting with those still inside. However, their tendency to jump back outside the perimeter has kept them just out of reach. Westergaard described the primates’ behavior as playful and calm, a positive indicator for their safe recovery.
🚨#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
43 monkeys on the loose in South Carolina town after escaping from research lab pic.twitter.com/fKqwOK86mE
— First responder (@MgdFirstComment) November 7, 2024
Residents have been urged to keep their homes secure and avoid the area to prevent further startling the monkeys. Flying drones over the site has also been discouraged, as it increases the animals’ stress levels.
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
How tf do 43 monkey escape without help? https://t.co/Dcgw3Xy3T2
— GM_Anon (@AnonWeaponry3) November 7, 2024
The escape has revived memories of a similar incident in 2016, when 19 monkeys fled from the same facility. While the current escape involves more animals, officials remain optimistic about resolving the situation without harm. As of Friday evening, the monkeys remain free, but efforts to bring them back continue around the clock.
Soooo… How are those 43 monkeys doing this morning? 🤔😁 pic.twitter.com/I2bzOCMyYs
— ⚓ Voice of Reason (@PausedOptimist) November 9, 2024
