According to the New England Primate Conservancy, rhesus macaques are “bold, extremely curious, and adventurous,” making them particularly challenging to contain.
Local authorities identified the escapees as young females, each weighing around 6-7 pounds.
Due to their age, none of these primates had been used in research experiments. Rhesus macaques primarily consume roots, fruits, seeds, and bark, though they occasionally eat insects and small animals.
Alpha Genesis and the “Monkey Island” Connection
Alpha Genesis was awarded a federal contract last year to manage a colony of 3,500 rhesus monkeys on South Carolina’s Morgan Island, colloquially known as “Monkey Island.”
These monkeys were initially kept on the island as “free-range monkeys” and were later brought to Alpha Genesis for acclimatization to human contact.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Alpha Genesis is registered as a nonhuman primate importer, meeting required standards for importation, quarantine, and care.
