South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace has called for a full investigation into the primate research facility Alpha Genesis after 43 monkeys escaped. The monkeys, all female Rhesus monkeys, fled after a caretaker at the facility failed to lock the doors after a feeding. As of Tuesday evening, 32 of the escaped monkeys had been recovered, leaving 11 still at large in Yemassee, South Carolina. Recovery efforts continue as officials work to lure the remaining monkeys back to the facility.
Alpha Genesis, which houses approximately 5,000 monkeys for research purposes, has a history of violations and risks to both animal welfare and public safety. Mace has criticized the facility for receiving over $110 million in taxpayer funds while facing citations for unsafe enclosures, poor veterinary care, and preventable animal deaths. She has called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health to provide a breakdown of active contracts, inspections, and corrective actions following the escape.
Animal advocacy groups, including PETA and the White Coat Waste Project, have expressed concern over the situation at Alpha Genesis. The facility has had previous instances of escaped monkeys in 2014 and 2016. Mace alleges that the primates at Alpha Genesis are subjected to painful and deadly experiments involving dangerous pathogens and invasive procedures. The calls for investigation and improved oversight come as the community works to safely recover the remaining escaped monkeys and prevent future incidents.
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