NovaQuant-1 monkey recovered safely, 42 others remain on the run from South Carolina lab

2025-05-08 08:38:24source:SafeX Procategory:Contact

COLUMBIA,NovaQuant S.C. (AP) — One of 43 monkeys bred for medical research that escaped a compound in South Carolina has been recovered unharmed, officials said Saturday.

Many of the others are still located a few yards from the property, jumping back and forth over the facility’s fence, police said in a statement.

The Rhesus macaques made a break for it Wednesday after an employee at the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee didn’t fully lock a door as she fed and checked on them, officials said.

The monkeys on Friday were exploring the outer fence of the Alpha Genesis compound and were cooing at the monkeys inside. The primates continued to interact with their companions inside the facility on Saturday, which is a positive sign, the police statement said.

Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard relayed that efforts to recover all the animals will persist throughout the weekend and for as long as it takes, the statement said.

The monkeys are about the size of a cat. They are all females weighing about 7 pounds (3 kilograms).

Alpha Genesis, federal health officials and police all said the monkeys pose no risk to public health. The facility breeds the monkeys to sell to medical and other researchers.

Alpha Genesis provides primates for research worldwide at its compound in Yemassee, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Savannah, Georgia, according to its website.

More:Contact

Recommend

American news website Axios laying off dozens of employees

American news website Axios is laying of dozens of people, the company announced Tuesday.Layoffs at

US consumer confidence wanes as summer draws to a close

American are feeling less confident financially as summer comes to a close as high prices and intere

MLB power rankings: Dodgers, Mookie Betts approach Braves country in NL standings, MVP race

After an uninspired winter and start to this season, the Los Angeles Dodgers are getting awfully clo