1 of 43 monkeys that escaped SC research facility recovered, others still loose

One of 43 monkeys bred for medical research that escaped a compound in South Carolina has been recovered unharmed, officials said Saturday.

Forty-three monkeys bred for medical research escaped a compound in South Carolina on Wednesday, and many of them were still close to the property on Saturday, jumping back and forth over the facility’s fence, police said.

One of the Rhesus macaques has been recovered unharmed, officials said.

The primates on Friday were exploring the outer fence of the Alpha Genesis compound and cooing at the monkeys inside. The interaction continued on Saturday, which is a positive sign, a police statement said.

Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard relayed that efforts to recover all the animals will persist throughout the weekend and for as long as it takes, the statement said.

The monkeys are about the size of a cat and all females weighing about 7 pounds (3 kilograms).

Alpha Genesis, federal health officials and police all said the monkeys pose no risk to public health. The facility breeds the monkeys to sell to medical and other researchers.

Alpha Genesis provides primates for research worldwide at its compound in Yemassee, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Savannah, Georgia, according to its website.