Alpha Genesis
Alpha Genesis is a company in Yemassee, South Carolina that breeds cynomolgous, rhesus and capuchin monkeys for use in research. Led by CEO Greg Westergaard[1] the company is one of the largest of its kind in the world.[2] It is a Class B dealer according to the United States Department of Agriculture.[3]
2024 monkey escape and safe recapture
[edit]On November 6, 2024, after feeding 50 young female rhesus macaques at Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in Yemassee, South Carolina, a caretaker failed to latch the double doors to their enclosure, and 43 monkeys breached containment. Yemassee Police assured residents that the monkeys posed no threat, and were roughly the size of small house cats. To catch the monkeys, officials laid out traps with fresh fruit and vegetables,[4] as well as police infrared cameras.[1] By January 24, 2025 all 43 monkeys had been safely recaptured and all were in excellent health.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Sang, Lucia Suarez; Smith, Stephen (November 8, 2024). "What we know after 43 monkeys escaped a South Carolina research facility". CBS News.
- ^ Black, Mitchell; Wade, Jessica (November 6, 2024). "Great primate escape: Dozens of monkeys on lam from Lowcountry breeding facility". Post and Courier.
- ^ Smith, Patrick; Mullen, Austin; Madani, Doha (November 12, 2024). "Police hunt 43 monkeys that escaped from a South Carolina research facility". NBC News. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ Rosenbluth, Teddy (November 7, 2024). "A Door Is Unlocked, and 43 Monkeys Make a Bid for Freedom". The New York Times. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Betts, Anna (November 15, 2024). "Curious case of the missing monkeys turns spotlight on South Carolina lab". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved November 18, 2024.