Of the more than 40 monkeys that escaped from a Beaufort County research facility earlier this week, only one had been captured as of Saturday, according to the Associated Press.
Many of the others are still several yards from the facility, jumping or jumping over the facility’s fence, police said.
The 43 rhesus primates escaped from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center on Wednesday after employees failed to close their enclosures completely. They have remained missing ever since.
Investigators say they found an escaped monkey in South Carolina and notified a research facility.
The property is located on Castle Hall Road between Le Creuset Road and Wall Street.
A Town of Yemassee spokesperson said the primates were “playfully exploring the perimeter fence of the facility” while also interacting by “cooing” to other primates inside. .
Alpha Genesis staff are keeping a safe distance and closely monitoring the monkeys.
“The primates are exhibiting calm and playful behavior, which is a positive sign,” the official said. “Alpha Genesis is working diligently to safely recover these animals and return them to their habitat unharmed, so we ask the public to avoid the area.”
AlphaGenesis insisted there was no threat to public health. This monkey is described as a very young female weighing approximately 6 to 7 pounds.
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Citing information from the facility, police said Thursday that the animal has never been used for testing due to its young age and weight, adding that it is too young to transmit the disease.
Residents are being asked to keep their doors and windows tightly closed and to stay away from the area. Law enforcement and facility personnel have set up traps and thermal imaging cameras around the area and are working to safely and humanely capture, feed and rehome the animals.
