
The remaining four monkeys that escaped from a South Carolina research facility last year have been captured, putting an end to their extended time in the wild. After weeks of efforts, the monkeys were safely returned to the Alpha Genesis lab in Beaufort County.
The monkeys initially escaped in November when an employee allegedly left their enclosure open, allowing all 43 to run into nearby wooded areas. While most were quickly recovered, a handful managed to evade capture until recently.
40 monkeys so called escaped in South Carolina. They are saying to lock your doors and do not approach them. The town is located 2 hours outside of Augusta GA pic.twitter.com/wY3fyQvnRK
— ҒβΔ GΩDDΣSS✨ΔΠDRΣΔ (@FBAGoddess444) November 7, 2024
Officials worked with Alpha Genesis staff to track the primates, using food as an incentive. The final monkeys, which had survived harsh weather conditions, were finally brought back with the help of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
All 43 monkeys that had escaped a South Carolina research center towards the end of last year have been safely recaptured: https://t.co/l5bKsC2i4s
— KOMO News (@komonews) January 26, 2025
Greg Westergaard, the facility’s CEO, confirmed that the monkeys are now safe and healthy. The company, which specializes in primate research for medical studies, breeds the animals for use in a variety of scientific fields.
All 43 monkeys that escaped from a research facility in South Carolina in November have been captured safely, officials told CBS News. https://t.co/kL1n8FEbL4
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 26, 2025
Concerns over the treatment of the monkeys following their capture have been raised by groups such as the Humane Society of the United States. They argue that alternatives to animal testing should be prioritized to prevent further suffering of the primates.
Past incidents at Alpha Genesis have drawn attention from regulators, with multiple citations issued for security breaches and animal welfare violations in previous years. The facility was fined after reports of dehydration and improper housing for some of the animals.