Dozens of Monkeys Running Wild in South Carolina After Escaping from SciFi-Sounding Research Facility

Authorities are working to capture dozens of monkeys that have escaped from a South Carolina biomedical primate research facility.

Yemassee Police are tasked with locating 40 primates that escaped from the Alpha Genesis research facility on Castle Hall Road in Yemassee, South Carolina, the department announced on Facebook.

Alpha Genesis "specializes in providing specific-pathogen-free nonhuman primate models to the biomedical research community," to clients across North America, Europe and Asia, according to the company's website.

The company also supplies "nonhuman primate biological products and materials," according to its website. "Including serum, plasma, whole blood, and tissue samples from a wide variety of research species,"

Yemassee Police and the Beaufort County Sheriff's Department have deployed thermal imaging cameras and set up traps around the area to locate the escaped animals. Anyone who sees the monkeys is urged to call 9-1-1 immediately.

Officials warned against attempting to approach or interact with the monkeys. "Residents are strongly advised to keep doors and windows secured to prevent these animals from entering homes," Yemassee Police said.

Yemassee, located in South Carolina's Lowcountry, is now on high alert as efforts to recapture the primates continue.