After two months of evading capture, the final four of 43 rhesus macaque monkeys that escaped from a South Carolina breeding facility have been safely recaptured. The monkeys, who survived in the wild through winter weather and evaded multiple attempts to lure them back, were finally tempted into humane traps with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
The rhesus macaques, all females and about the size of a domestic cat, made their break from Alpha Genesis on November 6 when an employee failed to fully secure their enclosure. The facility, located near Yemassee, breeds monkeys for medical research and is locally referred to as “the monkey farm.”
Throughout the search, officials reassured the public that the monkeys posed no health risk. Federal health authorities, police, and Alpha Genesis staff monitored the situation closely, using humane traps and food to coax the monkeys back into captivity. In addition to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, the traps were stocked with “monkey biscuits,” a high-protein Purina Monkey Chow specifically designed for the species.
The monkeys remained within the wooded areas surrounding the facility, roughly a mile from downtown Yemassee and 50 miles northeast of Savannah, Georgia.
Alpha Genesis breeds rhesus macaques for medical and scientific research, a practice dating back to the late 19th century. These monkeys are valuable for their genetic similarity to humans, sharing about 93% of the same DNA.
The escape sparked curiosity and some concern in the local community but ended with all 43 monkeys safely accounted for. Authorities and Alpha Genesis have not detailed additional security measures following the incident, but the event underscores the challenges of managing large populations of animals bred for research.
For now, life returns to normal in Yemassee, with the last of the escapees back in their enclosure and no sign of further monkey business.
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