1 monkey recovered after dozens escaped in South Carolina. Others “hop” back and forth near the research facility

CNN
—

The monkey chaos continues as 42 primates from a research facility in South Carolina remain at large.

On Wednesday, 43 rhesus macaque primates escaped from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in Yemassee.

In an update at midday Saturday, Yemassee Police announced that one of the missing monkeys was successfully returned unharmed. “A significant number of the remaining primates are still just a few meters from the property and jumping back and forth over the property’s fence,” a police statement said.

The free-living primates continue to interact with their caged counterparts within the facility. The update does not clarify whether the facility is keeping track of all escaped animals.

Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard said in the statement that police recovery efforts will continue Saturday “for as long as necessary.”

Police said Friday that Alpha Genesis employees and management were on site to feed and monitor the animals at the perimeter of the facility.

According to police, Westergaard appeared optimistic about the monkeys’ behavior on Friday. The facility uses “Have a Heart” traps that are humanely equipped with a trap door.

The Alpha Genesis Test Facility specializes in non-human primate research for the biomedical research community. According to its website, it is one of the largest primate facilities in the country designed specifically for monkeys, with over 100 hectares of land dedicated to research and breeding purposes.

The escaped primates were seen “playfully exploring the enclosure’s perimeter fence and engaging with those still inside by cooing to them,” the police said on Friday. The monkeys showed “calm and playful behavior, which is a positive sign,” police said.

Police urged residents to stay away from the facility where the escaped primates were seen as the animals “can be easily frightened.”

“They are described as very shy and gather in groups.” Yemassee City Manager Matthew Garnes told CNN. The monkeys are nonviolent but can become restless due to hunger, he said.

Residents have been asked to keep doors and windows closed to prevent the monkeys from entering their homes. Police advised those who come across the missing monkeys not to contact them and to call 911 immediately. The young primates – all female and between 6 and 7 pounds – have never been used for testing and are too young to transmit disease, police said.

This isn’t the first rodeo in South Carolina to feature free-roaming monkeys. The Post and Courier in Beaufort County reported that in 2016, 19 monkeys escaped from the same facility but were returned after six hours.

This is a developing story and will be updated.