Media Coverage About SAEN Stop Animal Exploitation Now

40 monkeys on the loose in Yemassee, law enforcement officials say

Action Alert Contact:

Sarah J. Helming, Deputy Administrator
email: [email protected]

Deputy Administrator Helming,

You must prosecute the Alpha Genesis Corporation for the negligence which allowed over forty monkeys to escape, endangering both the monkeys themselves and local residents. This facility must be fully penalized -- a fine of $12,722 per infraction/per animal.

 

40 monkeys on the loose in Yemassee, law enforcement officials say

From Natasha Young and Andrew Davis, WSAV.com, November 6, 2024

The Yemassee Police Department is asking for the public’s help locating monkeys that escaped in the Lowcountry on Wednesday.

Officials said 43 rhesus macaques escaped at the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center located on Castle Hall Road.

The center’s CEO Greg Westergaard told WSAV News 3 that a worker left a door open while they were cleaning the enclosure and the primates took the opportunity to escape.

None have been captured yet, but Westergarrd said the monkeys are likely to return on their own.

“We want to assure the community that there is no health risk associated with these animals,” Yemassee PD stated.

Residents are strongly advised to keep doors and windows secured to prevent the animals from entering their homes.

Yemassee PD said these animals can be skittish and any additional noise or movement could hinder their safe capture.

The police department, in collaboration with Alpha Genesis, has set up humane traps around the area and is using on-site thermal imaging cameras to help locate the monkeys.

They said they’re also working closely with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and state agricultural and wildlife officials to manage the incident effectively and humanely.

Alpha Genesis Inc. provides nonhuman primate products and bio-research services worldwide, according to their website. This includes serum, plasma, whole blood, peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and tissue samples.

Westergaard said there are several thousand monkeys at the research center.

SAEN said the facility has a long history of Animal Welfare violations stemming from negligence, inadequate husbandry, and escapes. They also said that they have filed a Federal Complaint with Sarah J. Helming, Deputy Administrator, USDA/APHIS/AC.

They said that the complaint calls for a USDA inspector to be sent to Alpha Genesis immediately to investigate the monkey escape.

The complaint also calls for the maximum penalty of $12,722 per infraction/per animal, according to SAEN. SAEN also sent WSAV a USDA Inspection Report from August 2022.

The report said that there were six separate incidents of animals opening or escaping from their enclosures.

This is not the first time primates escaped from the research center. WSAV reported about a group that escaped in May 2016.

Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN), an Ohio-based non-profit said that the monkey escape would likely violate multiple federal regulations.

“Alpha Genesis must be fully investigated and prosecuted,” said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., executive direct tor, SAEN in the federal complaint. “The clear carelessness which allowed these forty monkeys to escape endangered not only the safety of the animals, but also put the residents of South Carolina at risk.”

See also: Return to Media Coverage