Efforts to capture remaining escaped monkeys continues

YEMASSEE, S.C. (WTOC) - More than a dozen monkeys remain on the loose in Yemassee.

It follows a warning from police for locals to lock their doors since the primates got out.

It’s been five days since officials say 43 primates escaped from the Alpha Genesis research facility.

Staff at the lab say they’re making progress.

The CEO of Alpha Genesis says 30 of the 43 escaped monkeys have been recovered.

Monday, efforts to capture the other monkeys continued with traps being set in the woods just behind the lab.

Yemassee police say a sizeable group remains along the facility’s fence line.

Officials with Alpha Genesis say that the monkeys are staying close by and don’t pose a public health threat.

“That’s a lot of monkeys to let out of one cage and it’s just a mistake someone made,” said William Terry.

Yemassee local Terry says he used to be a maintenance worker at Alpha Genesis.

He described the monkeys a funny and smart.

“They watch you and everything,” said Terry. “When I used to work there, we would have the wrenches in our back pocket, and they’d run up to us and take our wrench from us and hide. We’d have to go back in and get our wrenches from them.”

He told us while monkeys escaping from the facility is nothing new, the number that were able to get out this time caught his eye.

“It happens every now and again. Very seldom do they get out. That many? Maybe one or two, but that’s a lot of monkeys to let out of one cage and it’s just a mistake someone made,” said William Terry.

Still, the escape continues to grip this small town and the rest of the nation.

The CEO of Alpha Genesis said earlier that recovery efforts will continue for as long as needed with veterinarians considering the trapped monkeys to be in good health.

He says the weather conditions here have been favorable as trapping efforts continue.

They’re asking anyone who sees the primates to not interact with them and call 911 instead.