Govind Tekale
A group of 43 female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) escaped from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in Yemassee, South Carolina, when a caretaker failed to secure two separate doors during routine cleaning and feeding operations. As of the latest update, one macaque has been safely captured, with 42 still at large in the surrounding wooded areas.
Greg Westergaard, CEO of Alpha Genesis, described the incident to CBS news: “It’s really like follow-the-leader. You see one go and the others go. It was a group of 50 and seven stayed behind and 43 bolted out the door.”
The escaped primates, each weighing approximately 7 pounds (3kg), are considered juveniles and haven’t been used in any research protocols due to their young age. The Yemassee Police Department, working alongside Alpha Genesis staff, has implemented multiple capture strategies, including food enticement and thermal imaging cameras.
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“The public is advised to avoid the area as these animals are described as skittish and any additional noise or movement could hinder their safe capture,” stated the Yemassee Police Department in an official release. Residents have been instructed to secure their homes and report any sightings to 911 without attempting interaction.
This isn’t the first escape incident at the facility. In 2016, 19 macaques escaped but were returned within six hours. A similar incident occurred in 2014 when 26 primates broke free from the facility. These recurring events have raised questions about facility security protocols.
Alpha Genesis serves as a specialized breeding facility supplying rhesus macaques for medical research worldwide. These primates share approximately 93% of their DNA with humans, making them valuable research subjects since their initial scientific documentation in 1893. The Carnegie Science Institute established the first research breeding population in 1925 for embryology and fertility studies.
The current capture efforts face weather-related challenges. The efforts are “Hampered a bit by the rain as the monkeys are hunkered down,” Westergaard explained to The Post and Courier. The facility is utilizing food preferences to their advantage, particularly apples, which the macaques favor over naturally available forest foods.
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Congresswoman Nancy Mace’s office has become involved, stating they are “diligently gathering all relevant information to keep our constituents informed regarding the recent escape of primates.”
The incident occurs in Yemassee, a small town with fewer than 1,100 residents, located 60 miles east of Charleston. While rhesus macaques can exhibit aggressive behaviors in their natural habitats, which span from Afghanistan to Vietnam and China, Yemassee Police Chief Gregory Alexander assured residents that “there is almost no danger to the public”.
Animal welfare organizations have historically raised concerns about research facilities’ use of rhesus macaques in vaccine development, organ transplant studies, and maternal separation research. The species’ extensive natural range and biological similarities to humans have made them among the most studied non-human primates in scientific research.
Local authorities continue monitoring the situation, with thermal imaging equipment deployed and food-baited traps set throughout the area. The facility has maintained visual contact with many of the escaped macaques, which have been observed jumping over fences and vocalizing to their captive counterparts, behaviors that authorities consider promising signs for eventual recapture.
