A police search is underway after 43 monkeys escaped from a research
   facility in South Carolina on Wednesday night.

   Police in Yemassee, Beaufort County, said the Rhesus macaque primates
   escaped from Alpha Genesis, a business that provides "nonhuman primate
   products and bio-research services," according to its website.

   The monkeys were a group of "very young females" that have never been
   used for testing. An Alpha Genesis spokesperson confirmed to police
   that the animals "are too young to carry disease," according to police
   statement.

   "Alpha Genesis currently have eyes on the primates and are working to
   entice them with food," police said Thursday afternoon.

   Traps have also been set up and officers are using thermal imaging
   cameras in an attempt to recapture the animals, police said.

   “Residents are strongly advised to keep doors and windows secured to
   prevent these animals from entering homes,” Yemassee Sheriff’s
   Department said in a statement. Anyone who finds a monkey should not
   interact with it but instead call 911, it said.

   The company works with monkeys to carry out clinical trials, including
   on[1] brain disease disorder treatments, and says it has "one of the
   largest and most comprehensive nonhuman primate facilities, designed
   specifically for monkeys, in the United States."

   Alpha Genesis did not immediately respond to an overnight request for
   comment from NBC News.

   The company secured a federal contract to [2]run a colony of 3,500
   monkeys on Morgan Island off the coast of South Carolina, also known as
   Monkey Island.

   The Post and Courier newspaper in Beaufort County [3]reported that
   primate escapes have happened several times before in the area,
   including in May this year, and in 2016 when 19 evaded security at
   Alpha Genesis before they were recaptured six hours later.

   In 2022, three monkeys escaped following a traffic accident in rural
   Pennsylvania.

   [4]Patrick Smith

   Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News
   Digital.

   Doha Madani contributed.

References

   Visible links:
   1. https://www.outsourcing-pharma.com/Article/2018/07/26/Alpha-Genesis-wins-1m-contract-to-support-progressive-brain-disorder-research?fbclid=IwY2xjawGZbP5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfsgKwb4xyuNyno1hwe7c1Cy7Sr9PUrauoF5g5BiTRUnCNSdZpRfXJknPQ_aem_LswVNliaA5c3feAPkTBvsw#.YbkfnSlxg98.facebook
   2. https://www.postandcourier.com/news/alpha-genesis-takes-over-management-of-south-carolinas-monkey-island/article_fb08a7d2-ce5a-11ed-bd91-8b72f090aac4.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawGZbOlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYFCnOM0YaH8R9NKM1GPESXxRu2_0yPiEOUsZpelHpzWpsXMFnJkDLJ7hg_aem_wVg-y1EC5pzq9QdpOLgs2w
   3. https://www.postandcourier.com/beaufort-county/news/yemassee-monkeys-escape-alpha-genesis-south-carolina/article_5b4dcc40-9cb2-11ef-9595-57948042780d.html
   4. https://www.nbcnews.com/author/patrick-smith-ncpn989401

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