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More than half of the escaped monkeys are now captured in Beaufort County, the facility says

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) – The CEO of a research facility where 43 primates escaped said Sunday evening that more than half of them were captured.

Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard confirmed that 25 monkeys had been captured as of Sunday evening.

“Everyone is fine,” he said. “Others stay nearby in trees.”

Yemassee police received a report around 1 p.m. Wednesday that a group of rhesus macaques had escaped from their enclosures at the Alpha Genesis Research Center. The property is located on Castle Hall Road, just minutes from the small town of Yemassee.

Greg Westergaard, the CEO of Alpha Genesis, says the monkeys stayed nearby, grabbing food from employees and watching him and his team in the lab

Alpha Genesis teams have been monitoring the area where the monkeys were staying and are reportedly also observing employees.

Alpha Genesis crews continue to attempt to trap them with food.

“Our efforts will continue as long as necessary,” Westergaard said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.