All the monkeys that escaped from a South Carolina research facility have been recaptured – CNN

CNN
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The last captives of a group of monkeys that escaped from a South Carolina research facility more than two months ago have been safely recaptured, the Yemassee Police Department said Friday.

The 43 rhesus macaques escaped after a caretaker failed to secure the doors. All are back at the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in Yemasi. The last four, recaptured this week, “appear to be in good health,” Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard said, according to police.

The Alpha Genesis Test Facility specializes in non-human primate research for biomedical research. It is one of the largest primate facilities in the country designed specifically for monkeys, with more than 100 acres of research and breeding land, according to its website.

In November, the police department said it believed the rest of the group likely stayed together nearby. The recapture comes after the animals weathered a rare winter storm that brought snow. CNN has reached out to Alpha Genesis for comment.

In a statement to police, Westergaard thanked the Yemassee community for its support, saying, “This was a real team and community effort.” Police advised those who encounter the missing monkeys to refrain from interacting with them and to call 911 immediately .

The young primates — all females between 6 and 7 pounds — had never been used for testing and were too young to carry disease, police said.