Last 4 Escaped Monkeys in South Carolina Captured After 3-Month Chase

It’s official—all 43 of the monkeys that escaped from a South Carolina research facility late last year have finally been caught. The last four rhesus macaques were captured recently, ending a months-long adventure that felt like it came straight out of a movie.

The group of monkeys broke free from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in Yemassee, S.C., back in November after a caretaker accidentally left a door unlatched. Within two weeks, 39 of the primates had been found and returned to the facility. But four clever monkeys managed to stay on the run, braving thick forests and even a rare snowstorm before being caught in good health.

Greg Westergaard, the CEO of Alpha Genesis, praised the effort as a “team and community win.” Details about how and where the final four were captured haven’t been shared yet, but traps with food played a big role in rounding up the earlier escapees.

Rhesus macaques, which weigh about six to seven pounds, are often used in scientific studies. Alpha Genesis houses around 7,000 monkeys for research purposes. After the escape, locals were warned not to approach the animals and to report sightings to authorities instead.

This isn’t the first time monkeys have gotten loose from the facility. Back in 2017, the company was fined over $12,000 by the Department of Agriculture for similar containment issues.

“We’re used to seeing monkeys around here, but it’s still a surprise when one darts across the road,” said David Paul Murray, a Yemassee Town Council member. “You just kind of stop and wonder what’s going on.”

With all the monkeys now back in their enclosures, this quirky chapter in South Carolina’s history has come to a close.

Last 4 Escaped Monkeys in South Carolina Captured After 3-Month Chase
https://www.99newz.com/posts/escaped-monkeys-captured-2503
Author
99newz.com
Published at
2025-01-24
License
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0