Thirteen research monkeys were on the loose Monday after five more of the 43 that escaped from a research lab in South Carolina last week were captured unharmed, authorities said.
The discoveries Monday — first there were three, then two more — mean 13 of the Rhesus macaques remain outside the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in the town of Yemassee.
In a statement, Yemassee police cited Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard for news of the day’s discoveries. “Additional primates have been successfully recovered today, all appearing to be in good health,” the police department said.
Over the weekend, police said, 25 of the escaped monkeys had been captured safely.
A group of the monkeys had amassed along the facility’s fence line, where many had bedded down for sleep overnight, the police department said Sunday.
Police in the town, about 60 miles west of Charleston, have urged neighbors to be vigilant and keep doors and windows closed and secured.
“Efforts to safely capture the remaining primates will continue throughout the evening and as long as necessary,” they said Monday.
They added, “We cannot stress enough the importance of the public avoiding the area, and under no circumstances should drones be operated near the facility, as they can startle the animals and cause further stress.”
Westergaard said a caretaker failed to lock two of a new enclosure’s doors during feeding and cleaning, leading to the escape Wednesday.
Alpha Genesis provides “nonhuman primate products and bio-research services,” according to its website. Westergaard has said it used a macaque to aid research into brain disease disorder treatments.
Last week’s escapees were described as very young Rhesus macaque females weighing just 6 to 7 pounds and, as yet, unexposed to research.
John Filippelli contributed.
