Local news reports or official health department statements

43 Monkeys Escape Alpha Genesis Facility; Residents Warned to Secure Doors

Nov 8, 2024, 06:50 PM

On Wednesday, 43 young female rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in Yemassee, South Carolina, after an employee failed to properly secure a door. The escape prompted authorities to warn residents to secure their doors and windows and to avoid approaching the primates. The monkeys have been spotted in wooded areas near the facility, cooing to the monkeys still inside. Police and facility staff are working to recapture them using food, traps, and thermal imaging cameras, and may consider using dart guns if necessary. Officials state that the monkeys are harmless and not infected with any diseases.