It sounded like a low-budget horror movie plot. Forty-three Rhesus macaque monkeys, all young females, suddenly bolted through an unsecured enclosure door at the Alpha Genesis research facility in Yemassee, South Carolina. Locals were told to lock their windows. The internet went into a frenzy of "Planet of the Apes" memes. But for the people living in Beaufort County, the question wasn't about memes; it was a simple, urgent one: did they catch the monkeys?
The short answer is yes—eventually, and mostly.
But the "mostly" is where things get interesting. This wasn't just a quick game of hide-and-seek in the woods. It was a weeks-long logistical headache that involved infrared cameras, thermal imaging, and a lot of very specific primate snacks. If you’re looking for the status of the Yemassee escape, or if you're worried about future breakouts, here is exactly what went down on the ground.
The Great Escape: How 43 Primates Outsmarted a Lab
It happened on a Wednesday in November 2024. A new employee at the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center—a facility that breeds monkeys for medical testing—failed to fully lock a door while cleaning an enclosure.
These weren't aggressive, full-grown males. They were "skittish" youngsters, weighing about six to seven pounds each. They didn't attack; they just ran. Fast.
The initial response was a mix of local law enforcement warnings and specialized capture teams from the lab. The monkeys didn't go far, which is typical for social primates. They stuck to the tree line right behind the facility. They were "playing" in the canopy, looking down at the humans who were desperately trying to lure them back with apples and peanut butter.
The Capture Timeline: Tracking the Return
When people ask did they catch the monkeys, they usually want to know if there are still wild macaques roaming the Lowcountry.
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The recovery happened in waves. Within the first few days, the lab confirmed that about 25 of the monkeys had been recovered. The process was painstakingly slow. You can’t just run into the woods with a net and expect to grab a macaque. They are faster than you, they climb better than you, and they are incredibly observant.
- Phase One: The "easy" ones. A group of monkeys stayed right by the fence, essentially realizing that life outside the cage meant finding their own food in a South Carolina autumn. These were trapped using humane cages baited with fresh fruit.
- Phase Two: The stubborn ones. This took over a week. Some monkeys wandered a bit further into the swampy terrain.
- Phase Three: The final holdouts. By mid-November, only a handful remained.
Eventually, Alpha Genesis and the Yemassee Police Department confirmed that the vast majority had been safely returned. The monkeys were given veterinary exams and, surprisingly, were reported to be in good health, albeit a little tired from their "vacation."
Why Was Everyone So Panicked?
The panic wasn't just about monkeys in the backyard. It was about what those monkeys might be carrying. Alpha Genesis is a "bio-research" facility. That word carries weight.
Public health officials, including the CDC and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), had to step in quickly to clarify things. These specific monkeys were "SPF"—Specific Pathogen Free. They hadn't been used for active infectious disease testing yet. They were young, "naive" primates used for breeding and baseline studies.
Still, the risk of "B-virus" (Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1) is a real thing with macaques. While rare, it can be fatal to humans. This is why the police were so adamant: do not try to take a selfie with the lab monkey. Do not try to pet it. If you see one, call 911.
Honestly, the biggest threat wasn't a plague. It was the monkeys getting hit by cars or causing accidents on the local roads.
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The Logistics of a Monkey Hunt
How do you actually catch 43 monkeys in the woods? It's not like catching a stray dog.
The teams used thermal imaging drones to spot the heat signatures of the monkeys in the trees at night. Once they knew where a cluster was sleeping, they set up "havahart" traps—non-injurious cages that snap shut when the animal steps inside.
They also used "social lures." Macaques are highly social. By keeping some of the captured monkeys in secure mobile units near the tree line, the "calls" of their peers encouraged the escapees to stay close. It was essentially a psychological game. The lab workers acted like anxious parents, waiting for the teenagers to get hungry enough to come home.
The Lingering Questions and Safety Concerns
Even though the immediate crisis of did they catch the monkeys has been resolved, the incident opened a massive can of worms regarding facility oversight.
This wasn't the first time Alpha Genesis lost animals. In 2014, 26 monkeys escaped. 2016 saw another breakout. The USDA has fined the facility in the past for various violations, including dehydration of animals and structural issues with cages.
When a facility has one job—keep the animals in—and they fail multiple times, the community gets restless. Local activists and organizations like PETA used the event to highlight what they call "gross negligence." Whether you agree with animal testing or not, the fact that a single unlatched door can cause a multi-county emergency is a legitimate security concern.
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What the Experts Say
Primatologists like Dr. Lisa Jones (an illustrative name for the type of expert who weighs in on these cases) often point out that escaped lab primates face a terrifying environment. They don't have the survival skills of wild troops. They are vulnerable to local predators like coyotes and alligators—which are plenty common in the Yemassee marshes.
What You Should Do If There Is a Future Escape
While the 2024 escape is wrapped up, these facilities still operate. If you live in an area near a research lab, the protocol is actually pretty straightforward.
- Secure your perimeter. Don't leave pet food outside. Monkeys are opportunistic feeders. If they find a bowl of Kibbles 'n Bits on your porch, they aren't leaving.
- Visual ID only. If you spot a primate, note the color, size, and any tags. Most lab monkeys have ear tags or tattoos for identification.
- No aggression. Do not throw things at them. A cornered macaque is a biting macaque.
- Wait for the pros. Capture teams have specialized sedatives and transport units that you don't have in your garage.
The Takeaway
The Yemassee monkey escape of 2024 ended not with a bang, but with a series of quiet clicks of cage doors. Most of the 43 "fugitives" are back in their enclosures. The "wild" population of South Carolina has not increased by 40-odd macaques, much to the relief of local farmers and the chagrin of those hoping for a more cinematic ending.
The real lesson here? Human error is the weakest link in any high-security system. One loose latch, one distracted moment, and you've got a national news story swinging through the pines.
Actionable Steps for the Public
If you are following the aftermath of this event or live near similar facilities:
- Monitor USDA Inspection Reports: You can search the USDA APHIS database to see the compliance history of any research facility in your state. Knowledge is the best way to hold these private companies accountable.
- Support Local Wildlife Rescues: Often, when these events happen, local animal control is stretched thin. Supporting local rescues ensures they have the resources to assist in non-traditional animal recoveries.
- Report Sightings Directly: If you are in the Yemassee area and believe you see a primate that wasn't accounted for, contact the Yemassee Police Department at 843-589-2105 rather than trying to handle the situation yourself.
- Stay Updated on Legislation: Keep an eye on local zoning laws regarding "non-human primate" facilities. Public pressure often leads to stricter secondary containment requirements, such as double-fencing, which would have prevented this entire ordeal.