A Rhesus Macaque monkey watches the traffic on the road to Tai Wai, Hong Kong, on January 15, 2004. Forty-three such primates have escaped from a South Carolina research facility. As of Monday night, 30 have been recaptured. Photo by Paul Hilton/EPA
Nov. 11 (UPI) — An additional five rhesus macaque monkeys that escaped from a South Carolina research facility last week have been recovered, local authorities said Monday evening, meaning about a dozen of the rhesus macaque primates remain at large.
A total of 43 monkeys escaped on Wednesday after a caretaker did not properly secure the door to their enclosure at the Alpha Genesis research facility in Yemassee, S.C., which is located about 95 miles west of Charleston.
Since then, Alpha Genesis has been using baited traps and other methods to try and recapture the monkeys from the wooded region surrounding the facility.
In an update issued at 5:40 p.m. local time Monday, the Yemassee Police Department said five monkeys had been recovered over the course of the day, increasing the total number of monkeys recaptured to 30.
Thirteen still remain unaccounted for.
The statement came hours after officials said three had been recovered on Monday, all of which appeared to be in good health.
“Efforts to safely capture the remaining primates will continue throughout the evening and as long as necessary,” the Yemassee Police Department said in the statement.
The monkeys have been described as “very young females” between 6 and 7 pounds and have never been used for testing because of their age and size.
Alpha Genesis has also said that they are “too young to carry disease,” according to the Yemassee Police Department.
The local police have advised the public to contact them immediately if they spot a monkey and to not approach or interact with them.
“We cannot stress enough the importance of the public avoiding the area, and under no circumstances should drones be operated near the facility, as they can startle the animals and cause further stress,” the Yemassee Police Department said Monday.