Residents are “strongly” advised to keep doors and windows securely closed.
At least 43 monkeys got loose on Thursday in a South Carolina town. Authorities warned residents to keep their doors and windows locked after the animals escaped from a research lab.
“So far, none have been caught,” the Yemassee Police Department posted on Facebook.
Yemassee Police Department
Traps are being set around the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in Yemassee after a group of Rhesus Macaque monkeys escaped around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
Yemassee police officers are using thermal cameras to help find the monkeys, which can grow up to 21 inches tall and weigh 17 pounds.
The sheriff’s office advised residents to keep doors and windows locked so the monkeys don’t get into homes. They also asked people to call 911 right away if they see any of the animals and to avoid approaching them.
Police are working with the staff at the research center to find the monkeys and said there’s no health risk from these animals.
Alpha Genesis couldn’t be reached for comment, but their website says they provide primate products and research services globally, including blood and tissue samples.
