Escaped rhesus monkeys spark alert in South Carolina town

The police in Yemassee reported that 43 young female rhesus monkeys escaped from their enclosures at the Alpha Genesis facility. The company's director, Greg Westergaard, told CBS News that the monkeys got out because their caretaker did not secure the doors. The local police have ordered Yemassee residents to stay indoors and exercise extreme caution, as the animals are skittish and difficult to capture. Additional interactions with humans could frighten them further.

"Residents are urged to keep their doors and windows securely closed and to report any sightings immediately by dialing 911 Please do not attempt to approach these animals under any circumstances," the Yemassee Police Department wrote on Facebook.

The escapees are reportedly young females weighing around 4 to 7 pounds, who were not used in medical tests due to their age and size. A spokesperson for Alpha Genesis confirmed that these rhesus monkeys are too young to carry diseases. The animals are believed to be in the wooded area surrounding the facility. Alpha Genesis employees are currently trying to lure the animals back using food.

The American research company's facility breeds rhesus monkeys, capuchins, and crab-eating macaques. Alpha Genesis uses them for various studies, including vaccine development, drug therapies, pharmacokinetics, viral pathogenesis, and experimental surgeries. The company states on its website that its work supports government, academic, and private projects, aiming to advance research on diseases and their treatments that can contribute to human health improvement.

Alpha Genesis also emphasizes that it adheres to high standards of animal care, complying with the United States Department of Agriculture regulations and the American Animal Welfare Act. AAALAC (Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care) also accredited the facility.

Monkeys are used in research where other animals, such as rodents, do not meet the research requirements, especially in areas needing advanced human disease models. This is due to their genetic relatedness and structural similarities to humans. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines were tested on macaques to evaluate their immune response.

Furthermore, research on vaccines for diseases such as HIV or malaria also required the use of monkeys because of the similarities of their immune systems to humans. Another example is the assessment of the toxicity and effects of new drugs, particularly in the case of biotechnological therapies and anti-cancer drugs. Scientists turn to some species of monkeys in this area due to similar metabolic processes occurring in their bodies.