Media Coverage About SAEN Stop Animal Exploitation Now

Escaped monkeys spark outcry over animal care at Alpha Genesis lab

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.

 

Escaped monkeys spark outcry over animal care at Alpha Genesis lab

From Clara Faith, WACH.com, November 20, 2024

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — The monkey escape in the Lowcountry that has been making headlines all month has sparked controversy this week.

Thirty-nine of the 43 monkeys that escaped the Alpha Genesis Lab have been caught, but now questions are being raised about the care of those animals

“We’ve been monitoring and trying to have an impact on Alpha Genesis for a very long time. We filed several federal complaints against them,” Executive Director of Stop Animal Exploitation Now! Michael Budkie said.

Animal activist group “Stop Animal Exploitation Now!, or SAEN, filed a formal complaint against the Bluffton, South Carolina, research lab. The group’s photos show filthy cages and an injured monkey.

WACH Fox News spoke with Greg Westergaard, CEO of Alpha Genesis. He explained that upgrades had been made to the facility, but the escape of the 43 female Rhesus monkeys was due to human error.

"We've accelerated our replacement of older facilities, and upgrading of the older ones, and building of new ones to prevent any, you know, essentially like a mechanical failure,” Westergaard said. “This particular group that got out was in a brand new; this is what's so frustrating, brand-new enclosure.” He added, I have to say it was a hundred percent human error, I have no reason to believe it was on purpose."

According to a 2022 inspection report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), two groups of animals escaped their cages and required medical attention

“These are the kinds of things that demonstrate that animal abuse is essentially rampant at Alpha Genesis,” Budkie said.

The USDA report noted that Alpha Genesis passed a routine inspection in May 2024.

However, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace is still seeking answers about the escape and the claims of mistreatment.

“I spoke to the CEO last week, who had the nerve to tell me that these primates have a good life. they have a good life until they're killed by a barbaric and horrific disease,” Mace said.

"She explained that she understood the economic importance of the company to the area," Westergaard said. “I don't know when she started being critical, but that's when that came out and she's made it clear that she's very anti the use of animals in research of any kind, so I presume that's where she's, that's her perspective and where she's coming from.”

With the allegations being made against Alpha Genesis, activists say lawmakers need to step up.

“The contracts and grants that are currently going to Alpha Genesis should be taken away from them because they are simply incapable of caring for these animals properly,” Budkie said.

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