The escaped Rhesus macaques pose no public health risk according to facility officials and local authorities.
Officials announced Sunday that 24 of the 43 Rhesus macaques that escaped from a South Carolina medical research facility last week have been safely recovered.
The monkeys escaped from Alpha Genesis in Beaufort County on Wednesday when an employee failed to fully secure a door during routine feeding and health checks. The incident prompted immediate action from the Yemassee Police Department, which deployed « multiple officers collaborating with Alpha Genesis personnel to resolve this situation. »
« Traps have been set up around the area, and the Yemassee Police Department is currently on-site utilizing thermal imaging cameras in an attempt to locate the animals », authorities said on Facebook.
Police advised residents to « keep doors and windows secured to prevent these animals from entering homes » and urged the public to « contact 911 immediately and refrain from approaching them » if any escaped monkeys are spotted.
The remaining primates have been observed exploring the facility’s outer fence line and interacting with monkeys still inside the compound, a behavior pattern that has assisted recovery efforts.
