Two more monkeys have been returned to the South Carolina compound that breeds primates for medical research, authorities reported on Tuesday. This recovery leaves only 11 of the 43 Rhesus macaques who escaped last week still outside the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee, according to a statement from police.
Officials from Alpha Genesis informed law enforcement that the two monkeys captured on Tuesday were found eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and appeared to be in good health. A contingent of monkeys remains outside the compound’s fence, staying close to traps set up by the company in the surrounding woods. Alpha Genesis employees, who are monitoring the situation, can hear the monkeys cooing nearby.
Since their escape on November 6th, triggered when an employee failed to fully secure an enclosure, a total of 32 monkeys have been successfully recaptured and returned to the facility. Alpha Genesis has affirmed that efforts to recover all the escaped primates will persist for as long as necessary. The compound is located about a mile from downtown Yemassee and roughly 50 miles northeast of Savannah, Georgia.
The escaped monkeys are all females, each weighing about 7 pounds, which is comparable to the size of a cat. The use of these monkeys for scientific research dates back to the late 1800s. Scientists believe that humans and Rhesus macaques split from a common ancestor roughly 25 million years ago, sharing about 93% of the same DNA.
Both Alpha Genesis and federal health officials, alongside police, have stated that the monkeys pose no risk to public health. The facility’s primary purpose is to breed these monkeys for sale to medical facilities and other research institutions.
People are advised to avoid approaching the monkeys if encountered and to refrain from flying drones in the area, as the primates are skittish and may flee from their gathered locations.
