43 monkeys escape research facility in US town; netizens celebrate their newfound freedom

Residents in Yemassee, South Carolina, are on alert after 43 rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from Alpha Genesis, a research facility specialising in primate breeding for medical testing. The escape occurred after a keeper accidentally left the pen door open, and the monkeys took advantage, bolting into the nearby wooded area of the Lowcountry. Now, authorities are urging residents to secure their homes and report any sightings of these clever fugitives.

Each of the escaped macaques is a young female, weighing around 7 pounds (3.2 kg), according to the Yemassee Police Department. Although generally not dangerous, police advise against approaching the animals. Officers and Alpha Genesis staff are working around the clock to bring the primates back safely, using food to lure them and even deploying thermal imaging cameras to track their movements. “It’s really like follow-the-leader,” Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard explained, noting that 43 of the group’s 50 monkeys rushed out the door.

The team remains hopeful for a quick recapture, though rain has made tracking more challenging. Westergaard noted that while the monkeys are finding some food in the woods, the lack of their favourite treat — apples — may eventually lead them back to their enclosure. “We’re hoping they return on their own,” he told reporters.

Local Congresswoman Nancy Mace also addressed the situation, assuring residents that her office is actively gathering information to keep constituents informed. Despite the unusual nature of the escape, police reassure the public there’s “almost no danger” from these monkeys, who have yet to undergo any testing or disease exposure.

The escape of 43 monkeys from Alpha Genesis Inc., a biomedical research facility in South Carolina, has stirred up a lively response online, with a mixture of humour, concern, and criticism. Many internet users were quick to draw parallels to the "Planet of the Apes" film series, jokingly suggesting that the monkeys might be starting a rebellion.

Another meta user advised residents against helping the facility as they would be required to “euthanise each animal they recapture in order to protect the existing number of research primates from outside diseases, pathogens, etc.” Most rejoiced that the animals had escaped abuse.

The incident isn’t the first of its kind for Alpha Genesis. In 2016, 19 monkeys escaped but were recaptured within hours, and 26 more had made a break for it two years prior. Residents of Yemassee — a small town with a population of under 1,100 — are eagerly awaiting the outcome.