43 monkeys escape from US research facility
Residents of the small US village of Yemassee in the state of South Carolina are experiencing an unusual week as they are asked to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed. The reason? 43 monkeys escaped from a research centre on Wednesday night!
They were reportedly young female rhesus monkeys kept at the company Alpha Genesis. The company uses the monkeys to conduct clinical research, including on treatments for brain disorders. The animals would not have been used for testing purposes and would also be too young to carry diseases, the company spokesperson confirmed.
In the meantime, the company is trying to lure the monkeys with food to recapture them. Traps have also been set and officers are using thermal imaging cameras in an attempt to capture the animals.
(FVDV for Tagtik/Illustration picture: Image by Rajesh Balouria from Pixabay)