The Yemassee Police Department says all 43 monkeys have been recaptured after escaping a research facility in November, 2024.
Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard told Yemassee Police that as of Friday, January 24th, the monkeys have been safely recaptured and all are in good health.
Westergaard also said, “it was a real team and community effort.”
A Recap of the Escape
At approximately 1pm on Wednesday November 6, 2024, the Yemassee Police Department received an alert from Alpha Genesis regarding the escape of numerous Rhesus Macaque primates from their enclosures at the Yemassee facility located at 95 Castle Hall Rd, Yemassee SC, when their caretaker did not secure the door to the enclosure. The number was confirmed to be 43.
The primates were described as very young females weighing approximately 6-7lbs, the animals have never been used for testing due to their young age and size. A spokesperson from Alpha Genesis confirmed that these animals are too young to carry disease.
The Yemassee Police Department, in collaboration with Alpha Genesis, have initiated search teams to help locate the escaped primates. Alpha Genesis currently kept eyes on the primates and had been working to entice them with food.
The public was advised to avoid the area as these animals are described at skittish and any additional noise or movement could hinder their safe capture.
By November 13th, 35 of the monkeys had been recaptured.
As of November 18th, 39 of the monkeys had been recaptured, leaving 4 still on the loose.
These last 4 monkeys lived wild in the area from the date of their escape, November 6th, 2024, until they were captured on January 24, 2025.
The monkeys are from the same population that inhabits Morgan Island along the coast of Beaufort, SC.
READ: On this Beaufort island, only monkeys are allowed to hang out
