police track 40 monkeys who escaped from research center

Panic in South Carolina. No less than 40 monkeys escaped from a research center in the town of Yemassee on Wednesday evening, according to several American media.

The center belongs to the company Alpha Genesis, specialized in the production “non-pathogenic agents from primates”we can read on its site. It conducts clinical trials, particularly to find cures for brain diseases, and claims to offer “the highest standards of care for all animals”.

Thermal cameras and traps

Authorities deployed thermal cameras and traps to spot and capture fleeing animals, and advised residents to “close the doors and windows of (their) residences to prevent (monkeys) from entering (their) home”.

The breed of the monkeys involved has not been revealed, but the company says it is conducting their tests on macaques and capuchins. It was also not specified whether the monkeys are carriers of disease or any pathogens.

This is not the first time Alpha Genesis has faced a breakout, according to local media. In 2016, 19 monkeys escaped before being recovered six hours later. In 2022, three primates fled during a traffic accident in Pennsylvania.