All 43 rhesus macaques that escaped from Alpha Genesis in Yemassee, South Carolina, in November 2024 were recaptured after 79 days, according to a local report published January 24, 2025. Police advice to secure homes and avoid the animals applied during the search; it is not a current alert.
What happened in Yemassee?
On November 6, 2024, 43 rhesus macaques escaped from an outdoor primary enclosure at Alpha Genesis, a research facility in Yemassee. A contemporaneous report described them as young females weighing about six to seven pounds; that was an estimate for the escaped animals, not a general description of the species. Futurism reported the escape and response on November 7, 2024.
The USDA Animal Care focused inspection report says the escape occurred during routine husbandry. A caretaker left to retrieve cleaning equipment and could not confirm that staff-entry doors were locked. The report said the enclosure protocol had not been followed, while also describing the facility’s security measures as adequate. Separately, The Island Packet attributed to Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard an account that an employee had failed to secure two doors during routine cleaning and feeding. These accounts describe an unsecured entry-point failure; they do not establish that the animals were deliberately released.
The USDA inspection report, dated November 25, 2024, recorded that 39 macaques had been recovered and four remained at large in nearby woods by the inspection date. It also stated that the issue had been corrected by then.
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#1 Best Overall
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Were the escaped macaques caught?
Yes. A January 24, 2025 follow-up by The Island Packet reported that all 43 had been recaptured after 79 days. The report attributed to the facility CEO, via police, the statement that the animals were safely recaptured and appeared in good health. That is a reported assurance, not an independently established veterinary finding.
What were residents told to do?
During the search in November 2024, police advised residents to secure doors and windows, avoid approaching the macaques, and report sightings, as reported by Futurism at the time. That was incident-specific safety guidance while animals were missing, not a standing warning for Yemassee residents today.
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How were responders searching?
Contemporaneous reporting said Alpha Genesis used food-baited traps and police assisted with thermal imaging cameras. Those were methods used by the facility and responders during the search; they are not instructions for residents to trap or handle macaques.
Quick Recap
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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