Twenty four of the 43 rhesus macaques that escaped from a research facility in the US state of South Carolina last week have been successfully returned, authorities said on Sunday, AP reported.
The monkeys, which had been bred for medical study at the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee, escaped the compound on Wednesday when a staffer failed to securely close a door during a normal feeding. The facility, which exports primates worldwide, breeds them for various types of medical research.
Since their escape, Alpha Genesis, federal health authorities, and local law enforcement have been actively working to locate the monkeys.
As of Sunday, 24 of the escapees had been recaptured. 19 monkeys remain on the loose, primarily near the perimeter of the compound.
Police in Yemassee, roughly 50 miles northeast of Savannah, Georgia, indicated on Sunday night that the remaining monkeys were bedded down in trees for the night.
Veterinarians have examined the recaptured animals, with initial reports confirming they are all in good health. The monkeys, all females weighing approximately 3 kilograms, have been observed vocalizing and interacting with the other primates inside the facility. These interactions are being viewed as a positive sign, indicating the monkeys’ willingness to stay close to their companions, according to local authorities.
Alpha Genesis is continuing its efforts to recapture the remaining monkeys. CEO Greg Westergaard said that the facility would persist until all of them are safely recaptured.
While the monkeys’ escape from the facility has been dramatic, officials stress that the situation is under control and that no health risks to the public have been identified. Although the monkeys were feared to be potential carriers of diseases due to the research being carried out on them, the facility has assured the public that they “pose no public health threat.”