The escaped monkeys appear to be interacting with their counterparts who remain caged within the facility, often “playfully exploring the perimeter fence” and calling to those inside. This behavior has allowed the facility’s staff to monitor the animals at close range.
Community Remains on High Alert
Yemassee residents are being advised to stay alert and avoid the perimeter of the research center where monkeys have been seen.
“The animals can be easily startled,” warned Yemassee Town Administrator Matthew Garnes, adding that the monkeys, although nonviolent, could be becoming restless due to hunger.
Garnes advised locals to keep their doors and windows shut to prevent any curious primates from wandering into homes.
The escaped monkeys are all female juveniles weighing between six and seven pounds, according to the police. They have not been used for testing and are too young to carry diseases, offering some reassurance to locals concerned about health risks.
Surprisingly, this isn’t the first time South Carolina has dealt with such an incident. In 2016, 19 monkeys briefly escaped from the same facility before being recovered within 6-hours.
