A troop of 43 juvenile female monkeys escaped the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center Lowcountry primate breeding facility that has been dealt a spate of security incidents. The incident occurred at about 1 p.m., and as of the next evening, no monkey was reported as recaptured. It quickly gained much attention because Alpha Genesis is a high-profile facility that houses 6,700 primates and has been a major player in the breeding of monkeys for use in medical research.
The primate escape has raised questions again about the security measures of the facility. This isn’t the first time primates have managed to get away; a similar incident in 2016 saw 19 monkeys escape.
While the latter primates were recaptured within hours, this incident appears to be more complicated. The recapturing of the group has started, with traps on and police using thermal imaging in search of the animals. Police Chief Gregory Alexander reported, “There is no immediate threat to public health or safety, but as a precautionary measure, residents should keep all doors and windows closed.”
Safety/ Search Measures in Place
Alpha Genesis has launched a serious campaign to catch the loose monkeys. In addition to setting up non-lethal traps, workers at the facility, including its CEO Greg Westergaard, are combing the areas around the compound. The search was rendered difficult by heavy rains, shelter from which the monkeys might be seeking and thus thwarting the search effort. According to Westergaard, these juvenile monkeys are shy and avoid human interaction; they are thus likely to hide rather than be out in the open.
The police department assures that they are coordinating with state agricultural and wildlife officials to recover the animals safely. The public is being reminded not to approach or attempt to capture any of the loose monkeys, which are criminal offense. Police Chief Alexander further warned that not only is trying to feed these monkeys dangerous but it is also a felony as the animals are, by law, the property of Alpha Genesis. He urged anyone who sees any of the monkeys in their neighborhood to call 911.
History of Alpha Genesis’ Security and Safety Violations
This is not the first escape from this facility, but it puts new attention on Alpha Genesis with its controversial history of both the security of its facilities and the treatment of its primates. The Yemassee facility, known colloquially by locals as the “monkey farm,” has had several incidents where animals have broken free of their enclosures due to lax security.
In recent inspections by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the facility was warned for a slew of noncritical violations including improper cleaning, poorly maintained enclosures, and insufficient actions taken to guard against potential perils to the animals.
A 2022 inspection report documented six incidents of primates escaping their primary enclosures due to weak spots in chain-link fencing or by squeezing through openings between cages. This led to a formal warning from the USDA to Alpha Genesis, putting the facility on notice that continued violations would result in penalties and possible criminal charges. In 2016, Alpha Genesis was cited for fines of $12,600 after federal authorities documented incidents including enclosure security, dehydration caused by accidental waterline closures, and more.
Animal Welfare Controversy, the Use of Rhesus Monkeys in Research
Yet, the broader ethical issue of primate research and animal welfare adds weight to the concerns outlined above. Alpha Genesis is involved in the breeding of rhesus monkeys for research purposes. Such animals are usually selected on their genotype and behavioral properties much closer to humans and have largely been utilized in research projects, such as psychological experiments and the testing of medicines.
All these animals have been studied; however, the treatment of these animals in this type of research has become highly criticized, especially since some of them are kept in very disturbing conditions for the sake of experiments.
To exemplify this, in the 1960s, rhesus monkeys were subjects for experiments regarding isolation and depression by a scientist named Harry Harlow from the University of Wisconsin. Experiments included the isolation of monkeys for extremely long periods, some of whom developed severe psychological problems, including self-starvation, and even irreversible social dysfunction.
These experiments also called into question a host of ethical issues related to animal research and brought up many concerns about the treatment and concern for the well-being of primates in captivity.
Alpha Genesis is no stranger to controversies of this sort. The facility supplies primates not only for medical testing but also holds a federal contract to manage a large colony of monkeys on Morgan Island, also known locally as “Monkey Island,” off the coast of Beaufort County. This colony houses about 3,500 rhesus monkeys, all of which are used solely in research capacity. Indeed, for years, locals have debated the ethical and environmental implications of this arrangement, especially as the presence of the colony has implications for the local ecosystem.
Community Reactions and the Greater Implications
With this latest escape, residents take a varied view. To some, like business owner Charlotte Murray of Yemassee, the primates are “just part of the scenery”; to others, the frequency is a cause for concern. Murray lives near Alpha Genesis. She said she sometimes sees the monkeys along the road and in trees. “I’ve never been afraid of them,” she said but conceded stricter security would likely prevent incidents in the future.
All the more damning, these are questions of the greater public about the containment practices of Alpha Genesis, as it has a history of repeated security breaches. Animal advocacy groups have seized on the incident to call for closer oversight of primate breeding and research facilities. According to them, repeated security lapses coupled with documented welfare violations are sufficient proof that the animals are not well cared for and can also pose a certain risk to the community around them.
The Yemassee escape is part of a broader trend of primate-related incidents in the Lowcountry area. In early May, a Japanese macaque named Bradley escaped from a residence in Walterboro. Despite a thorough search by Colleton County animal services, the monkey was later found dead. Incidents like these underpin the necessity with which exotic animals, whether in private ownership or research settings, need to be handled through protocols of secure containment both for their protection and the public’s.
The incident of 43 monkeys escaping from Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center recently shed a big light on the facility’s ongoing issues regarding security concerns and called into question the treatment and containment of primates involved in research. As local authorities have taken rapid action with search teams and specialized equipment, the incident has nonetheless fanned public debates over animal welfare and safety regulations for facilities involved in animal research.
