Dozens of monkeys are on the loose in South Carolina after escaping from a research facility.
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, the Yemassee Police Department confirmed in a Facebook post that as of 9:45 p.m. local time, 40 primates — who escaped from the Alpha Genesis facility located on Castle Hall Road — still hadn't been found.
"Traps have been set up around the area, and the Yemassee Police Department is currently on-site utilizing thermal imaging cameras in an attempt to locate the animals," police said.
"Residents are strongly advised to keep doors and windows secured to prevent these animals from entering homes," the post added.
Police urged anyone to contact 911 immediately if they see any of the animals, telling the public to "refrain from approaching" the primates.
"We appreciate your patience and cooperation, further updates will be released as they become available," the post concluded.
Per the Alpha Genesis website, the primate research company "provides nonhuman primate products and bio-research services worldwide."
The site states the company "is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of monkeys and all other living creatures" and "is one of the largest and most comprehensive nonhuman primate facilities, designed specifically for monkeys, in the United States."
The police post didn't provide details about what research the escaped animals were involved in at the facility or the breed of the primates that had gotten loose.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Alpha Genesis and Yemassee Police Department Police Chief, Gregory Alexander, didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.
Per local outlet The Post and Courier Beaufort County, the latest monkey incident comes after 19 of the animals escaped from the same research facility back in 2016.
The publication stated the primates were returned to the location six hours after they broke free.
Related Articles
Follow Us
