From Staff Reports 

YEMASSEE, S.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investigating a complaint against the primate research facility from which 43 monkeys escaped earlier in November, Charlotte, N.C.-based WCNC-TV reported on Nov. 26.

Specifically, the TV station said that the USDA has stated that “Alpha Genesis, a primate research center in Yemassee, S.C., was accused of violating the Animal Welfare Act.“

In a statement, the USDA added, “We recently received a complaint with some detailed allegations and we are reviewing them to determine whether there are Animal Welfare Act noncompliances we need to follow up on.”

However, WCNC lamented that “the USDA did not specifically state what the allegations are.”

 A news release from PETA on Nov. 25 referenced some allegations that have not been confirmed by investigating agencies.

WCNC reported that it spoke with the PETA primate specialist who received the initial whistleblower tip.

“This escalates things,” primate expert Lisa Jones-Engel told WCNC. “I think it’s very safe to say that there are a lot of people inside that facility who are really upset with what they’re seeing.”

Alpha Genesis captured national attention on Nov. 7, when 43 monkeys escaped from the research center. As of Nov. 26, 39 of the 43 monkeys had been recovered. The escaped primates were rhesus macaques.

Meanwhile, Jones-Engel told WCNC that Alpha Genesis is notorious for these issues within the community.

“This whole era of relying upon the monkey model has got to come to an end,” she told the TV station. “Alpha Genesis needs to be the first facility to fall.”

Documents indicated that Alpha Genesis has dealt with issues at its facility before, the TV station noted. “USDA inspection reports detail the facility’s past issues, including animal escapes, injuries, and deaths.

“In 2022, the USDA cited six separate incidents of animals escaping their enclosures in just that year. The documentation says multiple animals required medical care as a result of their escape.

“Citations going back to 2014 show multiple animal deaths. Other incidents accuse the facility of not keeping animals at the proper temperature,” WCNC stated.