LEDE-pc-110924-hh-yemasseemonkeys04.JPG A pair of rhesus monkeys at an Alpha Genesis facility in Early Branch, Nov. 8, 2024, two days after 43 monkeys escaped from another company facility about six miles away in Yemassee. YEMASSEE — A quest for freedom by a troop of monkeys in the South Carolina Lowcountry unfolded when 43 female [1]primates escaped from their breeding facility. Yemassee Police Department announced that one had been safely recovered unharmed on November 9. The other 42 remained at large. Police asked the public not to fly drones over the free monkeys because drones "spook" the primates. Many of them have been seen and heard, even cooing to each other, said police and a top official with [2]Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center. "We have had several monkeys come back to our property, but have yet to secure any," Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard said in a text. "They are basically just hanging out in close proximity. We are feeding them and all appear to be in good health." In a post to Facebook, Yemassee police reported that the rhesus macaques were "playfully exploring the perimeter fence of the facility, engaging with those still inside by cooing to them." "We kindly urge the public to stay clear of this area as Alpha Genesis works diligently to safely recover these animals and return them to their habitats unharmed." [3]Great primate escape: Dozens of monkeys on lam from Lowcountry breeding facility The monkeys saw their opportunity at 1 p.m. Nov. 6 when a caretaker at [4]Alpha Genesis left two doors to an enclosure unsecured. While the employee cleaned, the monkeys fled, beginning a fugitive search that has captivated South Carolina and the world. Most of the monkeys have stayed near the facility, though some residents reported sightings up to 5 miles away the morning of Nov. 8, said Yemassee Councilman David Paul Murray. Alpha Genesis is spearheading the effort to recapture the primates, though the police department is fielding calls and passing sightings along to the company. Anyone who encounters the primates should call 911 rather than attempting capture or contact. Leader in primate breeding and research Alpha Genesis is one of the world’s largest breeders of monkeys for research and medical testing. It also conducts research on primates. The company has participated in preclinical primate research studies in vaccine development, therapeutic drug therapies, viral pathogenesis, small molecule administration, pharmacokinetics and experimental surgical procedures, according to its website. Alpha Genesis satellite.jpg A satellite view of the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee, S.C. Google Earth/Provided From 2014 to 2023, Alpha Genesis used or controlled at least 3,466 animals for tests, experiments, teaching, research or surgery, federal records show. The group of small rhesus monkeys that escaped are disease-free and too young to be used for testing, Westergaard previously told The Post and Courier. A few studies available through the National Institutes of Health show that Alpha Genesis in recent years has been involved in research projects focused on simian-human immunodeficiency virus, or SHIV; antibodies to SARS-related viruses to prepare for future coronavirus pandemics; and onchocerciasis, or river blindness, a disease caused by a parasitic worm. Federal spending records indicate that Alpha Genesis' Yemassee site has been award 122 contracts dating back to 2005. The total value for that work was pegged at $90 million, though the potential value of those contracts is indicated to be nearly four times that amount. Alpha Genesis houses 6,701 primates, according to a federal inspection report from May. In addition to the Yemassee campus, the company has a satellite facility off Old Salkehatchie Road in Early Branch, located in Hampton County. Alpha Genesis also signed a federal contract last year to care for a colony of about 3,000 rhesus monkeys on Morgan Island in Beaufort County. Escape captures widespread attention The mid-autumn sabbatical has garnered attention from animal rights advocates, who have seized the opportunity to chide Alpha Genesis. A common refrain among onlookers is: "Let them be free." [5]The best memes (so far) about the 43 monkeys who escaped from an SC research center "The recent escape of 40 monkeys from a South Carolina research facility highlights the urgent need to end the use of primates in research. These intelligent, social animals deserve protection, not exploitation," Kathleen Conlee of the Humane Society of the United States, wrote in an email to The Post and Courier. Anthony Bellotti is president and founder of White Coat Waste Project which opposes taxpayer funded animal experiments. He issued a statement saying his organization had for years been investigating Alpha Genesis, which he denounced for abusing primates. Some on social media raised concerns that the monkeys would be euthanized once they are captured. Westergaard assured that the monkeys would not be killed. Instead, they will receive a physical exam and extra treats of fruit, vegetables, and "probably some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches," he texted. The primates will be kept together and monitored by veterinary staff. After 30 days, they will be reintroduced to the general population, Westergaard said. An expert with scientific animal studies advocacy group Americans for Medical Progress said generally the wellbeing of the animal would be the first priority. Caretakers would evaluate the monkeys and then proceed depending on the results, said Naomi Charalambakis, science policy and communications director of the nonprofit. Charalambakis called the narratives from anti-animal testing advocacy groups “unfortunate.” She said eliminating primate medical research would do significant damage to public and animal health. In Yemassee, an occasional escaped monkey isn’t shocking, said Murray, the local councilman. In 2016, 19 monkeys escaped from Alpha Genesis. The primates were returned home about six hours later. JUMPSECONDARY-pc-110924-hh-yemasseemonkeys03.JPG Downtown Yemassee, Nov. 8, 2024, two days after 43 rhesus monkeys escaped from a nearby research and breeding facility. Robert Scheer/Staff The media attention of the situation is, however, unusual for the small Lowcountry town with a population of less than 1,100 residents. The town administrator received more than 100 phone calls from across the globe related to the monkey escape, many from reporters. “Most people in this area don’t bat an eye,” Murray said of random monkey sightings. “They take it in stride and say, ‘Welcome to Yemassee.’ ” SECOND-pc-110924-hh-yemasseemonkeys02.JPG Motorists and a sign in front of the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee, Nov. 8, 2024, two days after 43 monkeys escaped. Robert Scheer/Staff Reach Tony Kukulich at 843-709-8929. References Visible links: 1. https://www.postandcourier.com/beaufort-county/news/yemassee-monkeys-escape-alpha-genesis-south-carolina/article_5b4dcc40-9cb2-11ef-9595-57948042780d.html 2. https://www.alphagenesisinc.com/ 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.alphagenesisinc.com/ 5. https://www.postandcourier.com/news/escaped-monkeys-sc-memes-alpha-genesis/article_be61f418-9de9-11ef-9b5a-e78c28654cdf.html Hidden links: 7. file://localhost/tmp/lynxXXXX6xjcrL/L1238692-3205TMP.html#1