COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Officials have announced that one of the 43 monkeys bred for medical research that escaped from a compound in South Carolina has been safely recovered.
Despite the successful recovery, many of the monkeys are still in close proximity to the property, leaping over the facility’s fence, as reported by the police.
The Rhesus macaques made their daring escape after an employee at the Alpha Genesis facility failed to fully secure a door while feeding and checking on them.
As of Friday, the monkeys were seen exploring the outer fence of the compound and communicating with their counterparts inside, providing hope for their safe return, according to the police statement.
AP Photo/John Raoux, File
Efforts to locate and retrieve all the escaped monkeys will continue over the weekend and beyond, according to Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard.
The monkeys, which are roughly the size of a cat and weigh around 7 pounds each, pose no threat to public health, as confirmed by Alpha Genesis, federal health officials, and law enforcement.
Alpha Genesis, a facility that breeds monkeys for research purposes, ensures the safety and well-being of the animals while providing them to researchers globally.
