Escaped rhesus monkeys in South Carolina spark local alert
More than 40 rhesus monkeys escaped from a research facility in Yemassee, South Carolina, run by Alpha Genesis, a company specializing in biomedical research on primates. Authorities advise residents to close doors and windows and avoid contact with the animals. The monkeys are used in medical research due to their genetic similarities and structural likeness to humans.
The police in Yemassee reported that 43 young female rhesus monkeys escaped from their enclosures at the Alpha Genesis facility. The company's director, Greg Westergaard, informed CBS News that the monkeys got out because their caretaker did not securely fasten the doors. Local police have instructed Yemassee residents to stay indoors and be extremely cautious, as the animals are skittish and difficult to capture, and further interactions with humans might scare them even more.
Animals escaped from research facility
"Residents are urged to keep their doors and windows securely closed and to report any sighting immediately by dialing 911. Please do not attempt to approach these animals under any circumstances," the Yemassee Police Department wrote on Facebook.
The escapees are reportedly young females weighing around 2 to 3 kilograms, which were not used in medical tests due to their age and size. A spokesperson for Alpha Genesis confirmed that these rhesus monkeys are too young to carry diseases. It's believed that the animals are in the wooded area surrounding the facility. Alpha Genesis employees are currently attempting to coax the animals back using food.
Besides rhesus monkeys, the American research company's facility also breeds capuchins and crab-eating macaques. Alpha Genesis uses them for various studies, including vaccine development, drug therapies, pharmacokinetics, viral pathogenesis, and experimental surgeries. The company states on its website that its work supports government, academic, and private projects, aiming to advance research on diseases and their treatments to improve human health.
Alpha Genesis also emphasizes that it adheres to high standards of animal care, complying with United States Department of Agriculture regulations and the American Animal Welfare Act. AAALAC also accredited the facility (Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care).
Monkeys in medical research
Monkeys are used in research where other animals, such as rodents, do not meet the research requirements, particularly in areas requiring advanced models of human disease. This is due to their genetic similarities and structural likeness to humans. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines were tested on macaques to assess their immune response.
Moreover, research on vaccines for diseases such as HIV or malaria also necessitated the use of monkeys due to the resemblance of their immune system to humans. Another example is the assessment of the toxicity and effects of new drugs, especially in the case of biotechnological therapies and anti-cancer drugs. Scientists turn to some species of monkeys in this area due to similar metabolic processes occurring in their bodies.
