25 monkeys found out of 43 missing, officials say

Kawundo.com

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YEMASSEE, S.C. (WSAV) — As of 5 p.m. Sunday, 25 monkeys have been found after 43 young females escaped on Wednesday according to the Yemassee Police Department (YPD).

The monkeys escaped after a worker left a door open while they were cleaning the enclosure, the Alpha Gensis’s CEO Greg Westergaard told WSAV News 3. Many on social media have been rooting for the monkeys to not be found or returned to Alpha Gensis.

Police said that a sizable group remains active along the fence line and has bedded down in the trees for the night.

They also said that veterinarians have been conducting thorough wellness exams throughout the day and initial reports indicate that all recovered monkeys are in good health.

Police also said that they ask that drones not be used in the vicinity since these animals can be skittish and any additional noise or movement could hinder their safe capture.

The police department, in collaboration with Alpha Genesis, has set up humane traps around the area and is using on-site thermal imaging cameras to help locate the monkeys. They said they’re also working closely with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and state agricultural and wildlife officials to manage the incident effectively and humanely.

Alpha Genesis Inc. provides nonhuman primate products and bio-research services worldwide, according to their website. This includes serum, plasma, whole blood, peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and tissue samples.

Westergaard said there are several thousand monkeys at the research center.

This is not the first time primates escaped from the research center. WSAV reported about a group that escaped in May 2016.

Alpha Gensis has also been called out by Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN), an Ohio-based non-profit. They said that the monkey escape would likely violate multiple federal regulations.