Usually, when informing residents of South Carolina about the presence of 43 monkeys on the loose, the assumption would be that the conversation was to address the situation of activities taking place at the S.C. Statehouse. However, that is not the case on this particular occasion.
A group of 43 monkeys broke free from a research facility on Wednesday, causing the residents of a small town in South Carolina to experience a real-life version of the popular game Jumanji.
As of Thursday evening, the 43 monkeys [rhesus macaque primates] remain at large following their escape from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in Yemassee. The Yemassee Police Department reported around 6 p.m. that the 43 monkeys are thought to be in the wooded area near the facility.
“Residents are strongly advised to keep doors and windows secured to prevent these animals from entering homes,” the Yemassee police department said in a Facebook post Wednesday night.
Police said Alpha Genesis had eyes on the monkeys and were attempting to entice them with food.
43 Monkeys on the loose in SC
Alpha Genesis was observed by the police monitoring the monkeys, while making efforts to lure them using food.
If you come across the missing monkeys, it is advised by the police to avoid engaging with them and promptly dial 911. The young primates, who are all female and weigh between 6 to 7 pounds, have never been utilized for experimentation and are too young to be carriers of any diseases, according to the police.
Garnes stated that the 43 monkeys, which are known to be easily frightened and tend to gather in packs, are generally peaceful but could become agitated from hunger.
Traps are in place to capture the running animals, while the police department employs thermal imaging cameras during their pursuit. Working closely with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and state agricultural and wildlife authorities, the police are actively engaged in the operation.
Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard told national news that the primates escaped after a caretaker failed to secure doors, saying it was “100% human error.”
“We have placed humane traps and have seen monkeys in the woods next to our property. We have people keeping lookout in the area where they have been spotted,” Westergaard said.
The Alpha Genesis test facility specializes in nonhuman primate research for the biomedical research community. It is one of the largest primate facilities in the country designed specifically for monkeys, with over 100 acres of land for research and breeding purposes, according to its website.
Police have instructed people to refrain from approaching the primates, who are “highly sensitive and easily startled.”
“We recommend that the public…avoid the area to prevent frightening them further,” the Yemassee Police Department said.
South Carolina has had prior experience with monkeys running loose before. In 2016, a total of 19 monkeys managed to escape from the exact same facility, but they were successfully recovered within a span of six hours.
Local News Via - MyrtleBeachSC.com
