Police warned residents to keep their homes secure and to avoid approaching the monkeys if spotted.
“Residents are strongly advised to keep doors and windows secured to prevent these animals from entering homes,” the department said in a statement. “If you spot any of the escaped animals, please contact 911 immediately and refrain from approaching them.”
Greg Westergaard, CEO of Alpha Genesis, described the escape as a case of “follow-the-leader.”
“It was a group of 50 and 7 stayed behind while 43 bolted out the door,” he said, adding that the monkeys may still be close to the facility.
“They’re just being goofy monkeys jumping back and forth playing with each other,” Westergaard noted. “They’re watching us the same way we’re watching them.”
The Rhesus Macaque Monkeys
The escaped monkeys are rhesus macaques, a highly adaptable species native to regions across Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and China. These monkeys are known for their expressive faces, brown fur, and reddish features.
