YEMASSEE, S.C. — More than 40 monkeys remain on the loose in South Carolina after escaping a medical research lab in the Low Country, officials said.
The bizarre news made headlines across the country as the search for the primates continued into Friday. Law enforcement agencies in the Yemassee area have teamed up with Alpha Genesis to locate the monkeys. At one point, the lab said it had eyes on the monkeys and was trying to lure them back with food.
They've also set up traps and are using thermal imaging cameras. The big message from the police was simple: If you see a monkey, don't approach it. Residents were encouraged to lock their doors and windows and make sure all pets are indoors to avoid any possible interaction with the primates.
Yemassee is about 200 miles south of Charlotte, just east of Interstate 95. The South Carolina facility is home to Alpha Genesis, a research lab that describes itself as "primate research specialists." Exotic animal expert Debra Kolaya isn't so sure about that.
"You know, if you lose 43 monkeys something's going wrong," Kolaya said. Kolaya takes in exotic rescues at her home in Concord, North Carolina. When she heard the news, she was worried.
"When a research facility can't keep hold of animals that are potentially dangerous, that's a problem," she said. Officers confirmed a new employee didn't fully close the gate, letting dozens of monkeys get out of the door. Yemassee police issued a statement saying the monkeys that escaped haven't .