Alpha Genesis Inc. is a primate research organization based in Yemassee, South Carolina, specializing in the breeding and care of non-human primates for medical and scientific research. Certified and capable employees of the organization dedicate their time to work with multiple primate species in order to provide “non-human primate products and bio-research services”.
About a month ago, on November 6, 2024, forty-three monkeys escaped from the Alpha Genesis research facility. All of the monkeys were said to have been female rhesus macaques, an intelligent herbivorous species originating from Asia. According to CEO and founder Greg Westergaard, the incident was a result of an unintentional mistake made by one of the employees. The employee, who had been caring for and feeding the monkeys, accidentally left the door unsecured, leading to the monkeys’ escape. Crews diligently worked to find the escapees using thermal imaging cameras and traps.
And by November 18, thirty-nine of them had been successfully recovered, all of them in good condition. Despite that, the task of recovering them was deemed difficult as this intelligent breed was reluctant to take any bait. The monkeys tended to stay close to the facility, exploring their surroundings as if it were a playground. Many of them were looking for freedom and enjoyment in the outside world. As of now, there are still four monkeys that need to be rescued. The sheriff of Beaufort County has stated to keep homes secure and to report to 911 if anyone has any information.
However, this was not the first time that an incident like this has happened.
Alpha Genesis has had a history of USDA violations, ranging from issues with housing facilities to veterinary care. There have been times when the amount of danger that AGI put their animals in has led to them needing immediate emergency care. Sometimes, these events led to death. These incidents have been detrimental to the primates, questioning the validity of Alpha Genesis Inc. Despite successfully recapturing the vast majority of the primates, the fact that these primates have been put into such precarious situations on numerous occasions calls the safety and security that Alpha Genesis Inc. promotes concerning themselves into question.
