Only 4 monkeys remain free after escaping S.C. compound
YEMASSEE, S.C. - Four monkeys remain free nearly two weeks after a group of 43 escaped from a South Carolina compound that breeds them for medical research, authorities said.
Two more rhesus macaques were trapped Monday outside the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee, bringing the total of recovered monkeys to 39, chief executive Greg Westergaard.
The monkeys caught Monday were in good health, and the others continue to thrive, Westergaard said.
Whistleblow reports monkey deaths, prior problems at research center
Moldy food, traumatic injuries and cage escapes – these are just some of the concerns outlined in documents from a whistleblower about conditions at a South Carolina monkey research facility.
Efforts to catch the four remaining escaped monkeys were expected to continue Tuesday, he said. Authorities believe they are probably all together in an area next to the company’s property or very close by.
Forty-three monkeys made a break for it Nov. 6 after an employee at what locals call “the monkey farm” did not fully lock their enclosure, police said.
Have you seen a bug like this? Kill it, experts say
Although spotted lanternflies don’t pose a direct threat to humans, they feed on a variety of plants, including grapes, hops, stone fruits and hardwood trees.
Westergaard confirmed there was no structural failure of the containment area where the monkeys are kept. He said there are two gates one must through to get inside the main enclosure where the monkeys live.
He’s assuming the failure to secure the three gates “was the result of human error rather than malice.”
The employee involved left the facility after the monkeys escaped, but said he was aware of no argument or disagreement involving the employee before the escape.
“My understanding is that immediately after the incident occurred, the employee’s supervisor approached her and stated that she could be terminated if it was determined that there was no structural failure which led to the escape,” he said. “I am told at that point the employee walked off the job and has not returned.”
Augusta pet shelter offers free adoptions due to high kill rate
Euthanasia rates are still up in Augusta, which is why shelters are calling on you at home to adopt.
Authorities set traps around the area and Yemassee Police used on-site thermal imaging cameras to locate the animals.
The facility has received millions of taxpayer dollars in funding, government data shows.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service has awarded Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center more than $19 million in 2024 alone, according to federal government spending data. The majority of that funding comes from taxpayer dollars.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, launched an inquiry into the facility on Wednesday. Her office has demanded a full briefing from the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture about active contracts and inspections at the facility, documentation of communication with Alpha Genesis regarding the recent monkey escape, and immediate corrective actions to enhance oversight and safety at Alpha Genesis.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
