South Carolina’s Monkey Chase Ends As Escaped Lab Primates Are Captured

The last of the 43 monkeys that fled a South Carolina research facility in November have finally been recaptured, bringing an end to the unusual saga. While it wasn’t quite the plot of a Hollywood blockbuster, some locals might have wondered if an “Outbreak” scenario was on the horizon. Fortunately, all monkeys are now safely back at the Alpha Genesis lab.
The primates escaped after an employee allegedly left an enclosure door open, allowing them to venture into the surrounding woods. The facility, located in Beaufort County, conducts medical research on primates for a variety of clients.
40 monkeys so called escaped in South Carolina. They are saying to lock your doors and do not approach them. The town is located 2 hours outside of Augusta GA pic.twitter.com/wY3fyQvnRK
— ҒβΔ GΩDDΣSS✨ΔΠDRΣΔ (@FBAGoddess444) November 7, 2024
Authorities worked alongside Alpha Genesis personnel to track down the escaped monkeys, with the final four being caught after braving weeks of harsh weather. Officials revealed that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were used to lure many of the animals back into custody.
All 43 monkeys that had escaped a South Carolina research center towards the end of last year have been safely recaptured: https://t.co/l5bKsC2i4s
— KOMO News (@komonews) January 26, 2025
Greg Westergaard, the CEO of Alpha Genesis, assured the public that the monkeys were found in good health and have been returned to their usual environment. However, their future remains uncertain, as animal rights groups have expressed concerns about the conditions they may face moving forward.
All 43 monkeys that escaped from a research facility in South Carolina in November have been captured safely, officials told CBS News. https://t.co/kL1n8FEbL4
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 26, 2025
The Humane Society of the United States has renewed calls for a shift away from animal testing, arguing that alternative research methods are more humane and effective. They have pointed to previous violations at the facility as evidence of the need for change.
Alpha Genesis has faced scrutiny in the past, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture issuing fines after previous escapes. A 2014 incident saw dozens of monkeys escape, and similar breaches have occurred in subsequent years.