All 43 Monkeys Escaped from South Carolina Research Facility Safely Recaptured

The rhesus macaques, on the loose for over two months, were lured back with food and returned to Alpha Genesis in good health.

The monkeys escaped on November 6, 2024, after an Alpha Genesis employee failed to secure multiple gates properly.
All 43 rhesus macaques were young females, weighing between 6 and 7 pounds, and posed no health risk to the public.
The final four monkeys, recaptured this week, had survived harsh weather conditions, including South Carolina's first snowfall since 2018.
Alpha Genesis staff and local authorities used humane traps and food, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, to safely capture the animals.
The USDA is investigating the incident, which marks the second escape from the facility in recent years, raising concerns about its protocols.