« From Armageddon to Planet of the Apes in the same week! “, jokes a resident of Yemassee, in the state of South Carolina, perhaps in reference to the return of Donald Trump. The population of this town received an unusual warning: do not approach the monkeys! Local police announced that 43 primates escaped Wednesday evening from a research center of the Alpha Genesis (AGI) company. These are rhesus macaques.
« Residents are strongly advised to keep doors and windows secure to prevent these animals from entering homesauthorities wrote on Facebook. If you see any of them, please DO NOT approach or attempt to interact with them; contact 911 immediately! »
Police add that traps have been set up around the area, as well as thermal imaging cameras to try to locate the animals. The monkeys were still being searched for Thursday afternoon. “ We want to assure the community that there are no health risks associated with these animals », insists the police.
“I saw “28 Days Later””
On Facebook, residents were torn between joking and denouncing the torture. “ They escaped because they were tortured! I can't believe there are torture facilities in the United States! Monkeys live in their own natural habitat and not in cages and tortured with needles just to see what happens. It's so bad », Reacts Jennifer. “I saw “28 Days Later” », replies Nikki, in reference to the Danny Boyle film released in 2002 in which laboratory monkeys escape and cause a zombie apocalypse.
On its site, Alpha Genesis presents itself as a specialist “ in providing specific pathogen-free primates to the biomedical research community ». « AGI is one of the largest and most comprehensive non-human primate facilities, designed specifically for apes, in the United States “, we can read.
