Urgent Action Needed! 32 Escaped Lab Monkeys Recaptured; No Response From Alpha Genesis On Born Free’s Offer Of Sanctuary

UPDATE! Greg Westergaard, the CEO of Alpha Genesis, has informed the Yemassee Police Department that 32 monkeys that escaped from their animal testing facility have been recovered, although a sizable group remains active along the fence line near the research facility’s property.

Rep. Nancy Mace, whose district includes Yemassee, South Carolina, sent a letter to animal welfare officials at the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, expressing concerns about the operations at the animal testing facility following the monkeys’ escape.

“We are writing with urgent concerns regarding federal oversight of Alpha Genesis, a company that manages a nonhuman primate breeding and experimentation laboratory located in my Congressional district,” stated Mace in the letter. Shockingly, she included that the laboratory received $19 million in federal funding just this year “to breed, confine, and experiment on primates at its facilities in South Carolina.”

In addition, Mace detailed six separate incidents of animals opening their cages and escaping from their primary enclosures, which were documented between January and August of 2022.

An infant monkey tragically became ensnared in stretch gauze meant to secure a water bottle within a clinic cage, resulting in its death, as detailed in the letter. In two separate incidents in July 2022, two animals suffered finger entanglements in the structures inside their enclosures. Both were discovered dead within their confines.

“Escaping is the only chance these monkeys have to avoid taxpayer-funded torture. We’ve documented how 10,000 primates are imprisoned on the Alpha Genesis-run monkey island and in its other labs, with most destined for cruel government experiments. These experiments involve having their skulls drilled into, electrodes implanted in their brains, being infected with deadly viruses like Ebola, becoming infested with ticks, and being forcibly addicted to cocaine and fentanyl,” Justin Goodman, Senior Vice President of the White Coat Waste Project, told WAN.

“This notorious primate abuser has raked in over $19 million in 2024 and over $110 million since 2008 from government agencies including the NIH, FDA, CDC, and the Department of Defense,” Goodman continued. “We’re proud to be leading efforts in Washington to stop this madness by passing bipartisan legislation to defund painful primate testing and retire monkeys to sanctuaries.”

Sadly, Alpha Genesis has not responded to Born Free USA’s offer to relocate the monkeys to their sanctuary.

Urgent action is needed!

Please call Alpha Genesis and politely urge them to work with Born Free USA to rehome the escaped monkeys and provide funding for their care. You can call the animal testing facility at (843) 589-5190 and email them at info@alphagenesisinc.com

You can also sign Born Free USA’s petition HERE!

November 7th: On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at approximately 1 PM, the Yemassee Police Department was notified by Alpha Genesis, a primate research facility, about the escape of 43 young rhesus macaque monkeys. Situated at 95 Castle Hall Rd. in Yemassee, SC, the facility confirmed that the escaped primates are all young females, each weighing between six to seven pounds.

A spokesperson from Alpha Genesis reassured the public that the monkeys had never been subjected to testing due to their young age and size. However, their escape highlights a significant and concerning issue: animal research. Although these primates have not yet been used in experiments, their future prospects are grim as they grow older. Rhesus macaques are among the most frequently utilized animals in laboratory testing, often enduring extreme suffering in the name of scientific research.

“We are deeply concerned for the welfare of the 43 monkeys who have reportedly escaped from the Alpha Genesis facility in South Carolina. The monkeys are vulnerable, with no experience of living outside of their restricted and inadequate captive environment. As wild animals, they also pose a risk to humans, with a particular threat of zoonotic disease spread,” said Angela Grimes, CEO of Born Free USA.

“We have reached out to Alpha Genesis today to invite them to work with us to rehome the monkeys to the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary, where they can live out their days in safety,” continued Grimes. “We await their response and encourage them to make the right decision to allow these monkeys a second chance at life, away from harm and exploitation. We invite those who share our concerns to reach out to Alpha Genesis to ask them to support our urgent proposal.”

In laboratories, monkeys are often subjected to painful procedures, confined to small cages, and deprived of their natural environments. They experience extreme stress, both physically and mentally, with many displaying signs of trauma and psychological distress. Even those deemed “too young” for testing are kept in captivity under conditions that deny them the ability to live as the intelligent, social creatures they are. Their escape offers a glimpse of the desperation these animals face, longing for freedom from the cages they’ve known all their lives.

The Yemassee Police Department advised the public to avoid the area to prevent hindering the search for the escaped monkeys. Alpha Genesis is attempting to lure the monkeys back with food, but the question remains: once captured, will they face a life of testing or is there a better path forward?

This incident should serve as a wake-up call. Instead of returning these young, innocent animals to a life of captivity and inevitable suffering, we must push for their transfer to the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary!

URGENT CALL TO ACTION!

Please call Alpha Genesis and politely urge them to work with Born Free USA to rehome the monkeys and to provide funding for their care. You can call the animal testing facility at (843) 589-5190 and email them here: info@alphagenesisinc.com

You can also sign Born Free USA’s petition HERE!

The Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary in South Texas is home to about 230 monkeys, rescued from the pet trade, labs, and zoos. The sanctuary offers them a natural environment, free from the horrors of experimentation. Please help Born Free rescue more monkeys by donating HERE!