Forty monkeys on the loose in South Carolina after escaping from research facility | South Carolina

Those monkeys went bananas: 40 monkeys escaped from a research facility in South Carolina, and local authorities warned residents Wednesday to stay away.

“Residents are strongly advised to keep doors and windows secured to prevent these animals from entering their homes,” Yemassee Police Department said on Facebook this week. “If you spot any of the escaped animals, please contact 911 immediately and do not approach them.”

The monkeys that disappeared were from the research center Alpha Genesis, which describes itself as “primate research specialists”. Police said they have set up traps around the area and are “using thermal cameras in an attempt to locate the animals”.

Alpha Genesis boasts on its website that the company “provides the highest quality non-human primate and bio-research services worldwide”. The company also claims that “we are dedicated to providing only the best and most cost-effective primate research and development support to the scientific community”.

The Yemassee Police Department said “several officers” are working with Alpha Genesis staff to capture the monkeys.

Although monkey flights are not common in the area, The Post and the Courier the paper notes that they have happened several times in recent history.

A Japanese macaque demolished its home in Walterboro in May. Local animal services revealed the macaque had been apprehended and two days later said it had remained found dead.

This isn’t Alpha Genesis’ first rodeo with unruly animals either, with 19 monkeys escaping the facility in 2016. They were returned to Alpha Genesis after six hours.

Other notable cases of escaped monkeys can be seen in Florida; an eccentric boat captain released two groups of monkeys in the Silver Springs area nearly 100 years ago. Many of these monkeys now carry herpes.