Police in Yemassee, Beaufort County, confirmed Thursday that the primates are believed to be in the wooded area surrounding the Alpha Genesis research facility. As of noon Friday, the animals have not been recaptured, according to a statement on the police department’s Facebook page. 

Here’s what authorities told residents

Locals were urged to lock their doors and windows and avoid any interaction with the escaped primates. They were advised to call 911 immediately if they spotted the animals in nearby areas, rather than attempting to approach them. “These animals are highly sensitive and easily startled, we recommend that the public avoid the area to prevent frightening them further,” police said, according to NBC News.

“The staff at Alpha Genesis are currently attempting to entice the animals back using food in order to ensure their safe capture,” the police statement on Facebook read.

The incident occurred around 1 p.m. Wednesday when 43 rhesus macaque primates escaped from the facility after a staff member left the doors unlocked, allowing the animals to break free from their enclosure. 

Authorities said the primates are described “very young females weighing approximately 6-7 lbs,” CBS News reported. They confirmed the animals have not been tested on due to their young age. A spokesperson for Alpha Genesis confirmed to police that the animals were too young to carry disease, per NBC News. 

CBS News reported that traps and thermal cameras are used by the facility to monitor and contain the primates. Greg Westergaard, CEO of Alpha Genesis, told the outlet Friday that the animals love apples and that using the fruit would lure them into the contraption before the door shuts to lock them inside.

Despite the traps being set, he said the monkeys have not approached them yet.

 “[They are] being goofy monkeys jumping back and forth playing with each other,” Westergaard said, per CBS News. “It’s kind of like a playground situation here.”

“They’re jumping down and taking the food and then jumping back up on the fence and the tree line,” he added. “They’re watching us the same way we’re watching them.”

What is Alpha Genesis Inc.?

According to the website, “Alpha Genesis Inc. provides the highest quality nonhuman primate products and bio-research services world-wide. … [W]e are dedicated to providing only the best and most cost-effective primate research and development support to the scientific community.”

This isn’t the first time monkeys have escaped from the research facility. Eleven monkeys managed to break free in 2022. They never left the area, and were eventually captured by staff workers, according to documents from the U.S. Department of Agriculture obtained by NBC News.

What are animal rights activists saying?

Several animal rights organizations have voiced their opposition to medical and research facilities using animals for testing. 

“The recent escape of 40 monkeys from a South Carolina research facility highlights the urgent need to end the use of primates in research. These intelligent, social animals deserve protection, not exploitation,” Kathleen Conlee of the Humane Society of the United States told The Post and Courier in an emailed statement.