{"id":15213,"date":"2024-12-15T08:37:50","date_gmt":"2024-12-15T16:37:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalliberationpressoffice.org\/NAALPO\/?p=15213"},"modified":"2024-12-17T08:40:35","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T16:40:35","slug":"4-escaped-monkeys-still-stay-together-months-after-beaufort-co-facility-escape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalliberationpressoffice.org\/NAALPO\/2024\/12\/15\/4-escaped-monkeys-still-stay-together-months-after-beaufort-co-facility-escape\/","title":{"rendered":"4 escaped monkeys still stay together months after Beaufort Co. facility escape"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/a>WCSC Channel 5
\nBy <\/span>Patrick Phillips<\/a><\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0Caroline Spikes<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/div>\n
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The rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from Alpha Genesis near Yemassee on Nov. 7. The company\u2019s CEO, Greg Westergaard, said Sunday his team still sees them together in a tree almost daily.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe four monkeys look good, and engage in species-typical behaviors such as grooming and tree-climbing,\u201d he said in a statement. \u201cI could have them darted but have not given that directive because it could pose a danger to the monkeys and since they are doing well we are just waiting for them to go in the traps.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Of the 39 primates that were recaptured, he says all remain in good health.<\/p>\n

Westergaard confirmed in mid-November<\/a> that there was no structural failure of the containment area where the monkeys are kept. He said there are two gates one must pass through to get inside the main enclosure where the monkeys live.<\/p>\n

The CEO of the research facility from which 43 monkeys escaped earlier this month says after an inspection of the facility, human error is believed to be the ca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They are assuming the failure to secure the three gates \u201cwas the result of human error rather than malice,\u201d Westergaard said, but added that they have no way of knowing that for certain.<\/p>\n

The employee involved left the facility after the monkeys escaped, but said he was aware of no argument or disagreement involving the employee before the escape.<\/p>\n

Westergaard said they continue to provide fruit and other treats, which he said \u201cprobably slows down the trapping process\u201d but added that it seems to him to be \u201cthe right thing to do,\u201c Westergaard said.<\/p>\n

\u201dRhesus monkeys are native to the Himalayan Mountains in Northern India, so the relatively mild Lowcountry winters are not an issue for them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The word is the first update on the ongoing efforts to recapture the last of the escaped primates\u00a0since news broke weeks ago that the U.S. Department of Agriculture was reviewing a complaint<\/a>\u00a0against the research facility.<\/p>\n

The animal rights activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said it submitted whistleblower complaints alleging misconduct.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can confirm that we recently received a complaint with some detailed allegations and that we are reviewing them to determine whether there are Animal Welfare Act noncompliance we need to follow up on,\u201d USDA spokesman R. Andre Bell said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Alpha Genesis did not respond to requests for comment on the complaint and the USDA has not provided updates on where that review stands.<\/p>\n

Over the last 10 years, the facility has received over $130 million from the Department of Health and Human Services with the majority of that funding coming from taxpayer dollars.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WCSC Channel 5 By Patrick Phillips\u00a0and\u00a0Caroline Spikes The rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from Alpha Genesis near Yemassee on Nov. 7. The company\u2019s CEO, Greg Westergaard, said Sunday his team still sees them together in a tree almost daily. \u201cThe four monkeys look good, and engage in species-typical behaviors such as grooming and tree-climbing,\u201d he said … <\/p>\n

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