Authorities in Beaufort County, South Carolina, have launched a search operation, including the use of thermal imaging cameras, to track down more than 40 escaped monkeys.
The situation has drawn comparisons to Jumanji and Planet of The Apes, though these rhesus macaques didn’t come from a magical board game; they escaped from Alpha Genesis, a bioresearch facility, on November 6.
Mass Breakout: 40 Monkeys Escaped
The animals have spread across rural areas, prompting authorities to urge residents to keep doors and windows closed and avoid trying to capture any monkeys themselves. While no incidents have been reported, officials are taking precautions to prevent any risks associated with the escape.
The facility, located about a mile from downtown Yemassee, South Carolina, typically manages such escapes within its grounds. However, this time, the monkeys managed to breach the perimeter and venture into the surrounding community.
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Alpha Genesis’s Capture Efforts
Alpha Genesis, the company managing the animals, has set up traps and is using thermal imaging to locate and recapture them. “Our handlers know the monkeys well and can usually lure them back with fruit or small treats,” Alexander, an Alpha Genesis representative, told The Associated Press. However, rounding up this many fugitives requires extra effort.
Community Concerns and Safety Precautions
Although Alpha Genesis assures the public that the monkeys are neither sick nor dangerous, their escape has caused significant concern among residents. Reasons for worry include:
- Community Safety: The lab has advised residents to lock doors and windows to prevent any curious monkeys from entering homes. Residents have also been advised not to approach or attempt to catch the monkeys, as they could potentially carry diseases.
- Research Facility Standards: The Alpha Genesis lab, which specializes in primate research related to neuroscience, infectious diseases, and animal behavior, is under investigation to determine how the escape occurred. Authorities are reviewing safety protocols to prevent future incidents.
For now, local authorities and animal control teams are working to safely retrieve the animals using nets, baited cages, and various trapping strategies.
This article was originally written in Spanish by Perla Vallejo in Ecoosfera