Police are searching for more than 40 monkeys who escaped from the Alpha Genesis brain disorder research facility in Yemassee, South Carolina, on Wednesday. The exact type hasn't been disclosed, but they're believed to be macaque  and capuchin monkeys.

New York Post

As the monkeys weren't recoverd by Thursday morning, police began setting up strategic traps around the area, as well as using thermal imaging cameras to support the search effort.

The Associated Press

It's also not known what these monkeys were being tested for, but it was reported last year that Alpha Genesis received a federal contract to observe 3.5K rhesus macaque monkeys on South Carolina's Morgan Island.

CBS News

Post and Courier

The island, dubbed the "Monkey Farm" by locals, is home to a total of about 6.5K animals. While the company says no research is conducted on-site, the facility reportedly transfers 600-700 monkeys every year for biomedical and vaccine research elsewhere.

Popular Science

Residents of Yemassee, which is a population of roughly 1K people situated in Beaufort and Hampton counties, have been advised to close their doors and windows so the monkeys don't enter their homes.

This comes after the federal government fined Alpha Genesis $12.6K in 2018 for allowing dozens of primates to escape as well as treating them inhumanely. Other escape incidents have also been reported over the years.

While another monkey escape could sound alarming to people, it's important to know that these primates typically don't travel very far before they're recovered. Alpha Genesis follows effective safety protocols regarding both the treatment of monkey on the island and how to respond to occasional escapes.

40 Monkeys Escape Lab in South Carolina

The Spin

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40 Monkeys Escape Lab in South Carolina

The Spin

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