Over 40 monkeys escape research center in Beaufort County

On November 8, 2024By Littum

BEAUFORT COUNTY, SC (WTOC) – The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office needs help locating 43 Rhesus macaques that escaped from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center on Wednesday.

According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, they are working with Yemassee Police, personnel at Alpha Genesis Primate Research Centerand state agriculture and wildlife officials to locate these primates.

According to a spokesman for Alpha Genesis, the primates weigh young females about six to seven pounds. They have never been used for testing. They are also too young to carry disease.

As of noon Thursday, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office says they are watching the primates and working to lure them with food.

The Sheriff’s Office asks that you avoid the area around Alpha Genesis, as any sound or movement could hinder a safe capture.

The Yemassee Police Department says they have set up traps around the area and are using thermal cameras to help locate the primates.

Yemassee Police are advising all residents to keep doors and windows closed to prevent the primates from entering their homes.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating these primates and returning them safely to their enclosures.

If you encounter one of the animals, call 911 immediately, do not attempt to interact with them.

WTOC investigates: Research facility has history of USDA violations

Wednesday’s escape of the monkeys is not the first incident to come out of the Alpha Genesis Research Center. In 2016, 19 monkeys escaped the facility, and two died later that summer.

The plant is regulated by the US Department of Agriculture. WTOC Investigates found that since 2022, Alpha Genesis has received eight violations from the USDA, including three critical violations: a miscellaneous violation, a housing facility violation, and a veterinary violation.

An inspection report shows that from January to August 2022 – six monkeys were placed in the wrong enclosures – which held other types of monkeys they should not be housed with.

The report states that “One animal was found dead from trauma caused by the resident animals in the enclosure” and “Four animals required subsequent veterinary treatment.”

The report also says that in two separate incidents, two monkeys got their fingers “caught in structures inside their enclosures.” Both were found dead with their fingers pinched. The report goes on to say that the incident could have been caused by “inadequate daily observations”. The report notes that the problem was corrected prior to inspection.

Finally, the inspection report says there were six separate occasions when monkeys escaped from their enclosures between January and August 2022. In one instance, the monkeys got out of their enclosures entirely but remained within the facility’s perimeter fence. In another case, a monkey escaped its enclosure and “required subsequent veterinary treatment.”

The report shows that after these escapes, Alpha Genesis repaired the chain link and got rid of some of the cages that were completely escaped from.

Alpha Genesis was last inspected in May 2024 and received no violations. The report shows that in May this year there were at least 6,701 monkeys on the property.

WTOC Investigates contacted the USDA for comment. They say that they are aware of the situation and take animal welfare situations seriously. They added that they follow “standard response protocol.”