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| {{Short description|Animal breeding business that sells them for research}} | |||
| {{AFC submission|d|corp|u=FloridaArmy|ns=118|decliner=Jannatulbaqi|declinets=20241109182140|ts=20241108233250}} <!-- Do not remove this line! --> | |||
| {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}} | |||
| {{Use American English|date=November 2024}} | |||
| '''Alpha Genesis''' is a company in ] that breeds monkeys and sells the animals for use in research. |
'''Alpha Genesis''' is a company in ] that breeds ], ] and ] monkeys and sells the animals for use in research. Led by CEO Greg Westergaard,<ref name="cbs">{{Cite web |last1=Sang |first1=Lucia Suarez |last2=Smith |first2=Stephen |date=November 8, 2024 |title=What we know after 43 monkeys escaped a South Carolina research facility |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/south-carolina-escaped-monkeys-what-we-know/ |publisher=CBS News}}</ref> the company is one of the largest of its kind in the world.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/beaufort-county/news/yemassee-monkeys-escape-alpha-genesis-south-carolina/article_5b4dcc40-9cb2-11ef-9595-57948042780d.html|title=Great primate escape: Dozens of monkeys on lam from Lowcountry breeding facility|first1=Mitchell|last1=Black|first2=Jessica|last2=Wade|date=November 6, 2024|website=Post and Courier}}</ref> It is a Class B dealer according to the ].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Patrick |last2=Mullen |first2=Austin |last3=Madani |first3=Doha |date=2024-11-12 |title=Police hunt 43 monkeys that escaped from a South Carolina research facility |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/monkeys-escape-alpha-genesis-research-facility-south-carolina-rcna179077 |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> | ||
| == History == | |||
| Traps with bait and infrared cameras are being used by police to try and capture the ] monkeys.In 2024 there were more than 6,700 mobkeys at the facility.<ref name=cbs>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/south-carolina-escaped-monkeys-what-we-know/|title=What we know after 43 monkeys escaped a South Carolina research facility - CBS News|first1=Lucia Suarez|last1=Sang|first2=Stephen|last2=Smith|date=November 8, 2024|website=www.cbsnews.com}}</ref> | |||
| In 2014, 26 animals escaped from an Alpha Genesis enclosure (but did not leave the facility), prompting a fine of over $12,000 from the Department of Agriculture.<ref name=":1" /> In 2015, an inspection report wrote that one cynomologus macaque monkey's cage had been closed with a clip instead of a lock.<ref name=":0" /> In 2016, 19 animals evaded security at Alpha Genesis for six hours before they voluntarily returned to their enclosure.<ref name=":1" /> | |||
| In September 2022, Alpha Genesis was fined over a "critical" issue with its housing facilities as a result of six separate incidents of animals opening or escaping their primary enclosures, including at least 11 animals from two separate groups escaping "through weaknesses in the chain link fences of their primary enclosure", and six other monkeys opening the panels between their cages. Westergaard has stated that the monkeys did not leave the property and were recaptured within two hours.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
| Greg Westergaard is the company's CEO.<ref name=cbs/> The company sells cynomolgous, rhesus and capuchin monkeys. The escaped monkeys are young females.<ref name=cbs/> | |||
| From February 2023 to May 2024, Alpha Genesis had no issues according to inspection records.<ref name=":0" /> In March 2023, the company took over management of a large colony of monkeys ], commonly referred to as "Monkey Island".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Bartelme |first=Tony |last2=McCray |first2=Shamira |date=2023-03-30 |title=Alpha Genesis lands new contract tor breed monkeys on Morgan Island |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/alpha-genesis-takes-over-management-of-south-carolinas-monkey-island/article_fb08a7d2-ce5a-11ed-bd91-8b72f090aac4.html |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> The island is owned by the U.S. government which imported its original monkeys.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2016/02/10/a-look-at-south-carolinas-very-own-monkey-island/|title=A look at South Carolina's very own Monkey Island|first=Dustin|last=Waters|date=February 10, 2016|website=Charleston City Paper}}</ref> | |||
| == 2024 monkey escape == | |||
| Eight years prior to the 2025 monkey breakout 19 primates escaped for several hours before being recaptured.<ref name=cbs/> Inspections have found violations at the breeding facility.<ref name="auto"/> | |||
| On November 6, 2024, after feeding 50 young female ] at Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in ], a caretaker failed to latch the double doors to their enclosure. As a result, 43 of the monkeys escaped from the enclosure. Yemassee residents were instructed to keep their doors closed, though were assured that they posed no threat as they were unlikely to be aggressive and were roughly the size of small house cats. To catch the monkeys, officials laid out traps with fresh fruit and vegetables,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosenbluth |first=Teddy |date=2024-11-07 |title=A Door Is Unlocked, and 43 Monkeys Make a Bid for Freedom |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/07/science/escaped-monkeys-south-carolina.html |access-date=2024-11-17 |work=]}}</ref> as well as police infrared cameras.<ref name="cbs" /> By November 15, 39 had been safely recaptured with four more seen eating, grooming and playing together in the woods adjacent to the research facility.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Betts |first=Anna |date=2024-11-15 |title=Curious case of the missing monkeys turns spotlight on South Carolina lab |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/15/escaped-monkeys-south-carolina-lab |access-date=2024-11-18 |work=] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> | |||
| The 43 monkeys that escaped from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center after a door was left unsecured.<ref>https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/forty-three-monkeys-are-on-the-loose-in-south-carolina-after-escaping-a-research-facility-when-a-door-was-left-unsecured-180985430/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_term=1182024&utm_content=new&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR221WMZ6CbBQOBcG8nRdJxe4vIdmkKHqwX76j9VBsIjagS2bXZia_gzWAU_aem_MDwc3Iq9s2TV83XwStFmlg</ref> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 21:31, 30 December 2024
Animal breeding business that sells them for research
Alpha Genesis is a company in Yemassee, South Carolina that breeds cynomolgous, rhesus and capuchin monkeys and sells the animals for use in research. Led by CEO Greg Westergaard, the company is one of the largest of its kind in the world. It is a Class B dealer according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
History
In 2014, 26 animals escaped from an Alpha Genesis enclosure (but did not leave the facility), prompting a fine of over $12,000 from the Department of Agriculture. In 2015, an inspection report wrote that one cynomologus macaque monkey's cage had been closed with a clip instead of a lock. In 2016, 19 animals evaded security at Alpha Genesis for six hours before they voluntarily returned to their enclosure.
In September 2022, Alpha Genesis was fined over a "critical" issue with its housing facilities as a result of six separate incidents of animals opening or escaping their primary enclosures, including at least 11 animals from two separate groups escaping "through weaknesses in the chain link fences of their primary enclosure", and six other monkeys opening the panels between their cages. Westergaard has stated that the monkeys did not leave the property and were recaptured within two hours.
From February 2023 to May 2024, Alpha Genesis had no issues according to inspection records. In March 2023, the company took over management of a large colony of monkeys Morgan Island, South Carolina, commonly referred to as "Monkey Island". The island is owned by the U.S. government which imported its original monkeys.
2024 monkey escape
On November 6, 2024, after feeding 50 young female rhesus macaques at Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in Yemassee, South Carolina, a caretaker failed to latch the double doors to their enclosure. As a result, 43 of the monkeys escaped from the enclosure. Yemassee residents were instructed to keep their doors closed, though were assured that they posed no threat as they were unlikely to be aggressive and were roughly the size of small house cats. To catch the monkeys, officials laid out traps with fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as police infrared cameras. By November 15, 39 had been safely recaptured with four more seen eating, grooming and playing together in the woods adjacent to the research facility.
References
- ^ Sang, Lucia Suarez; Smith, Stephen (November 8, 2024). "What we know after 43 monkeys escaped a South Carolina research facility". CBS News.
- Black, Mitchell; Wade, Jessica (November 6, 2024). "Great primate escape: Dozens of monkeys on lam from Lowcountry breeding facility". Post and Courier.
- ^ Smith, Patrick; Mullen, Austin; Madani, Doha (November 12, 2024). "Police hunt 43 monkeys that escaped from a South Carolina research facility". NBC News. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ Bartelme, Tony; McCray, Shamira (March 30, 2023). "Alpha Genesis lands new contract tor breed monkeys on Morgan Island". Post and Courier. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- Waters, Dustin (February 10, 2016). "A look at South Carolina's very own Monkey Island". Charleston City Paper.
- Rosenbluth, Teddy (November 7, 2024). "A Door Is Unlocked, and 43 Monkeys Make a Bid for Freedom". The New York Times. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- Betts, Anna (November 15, 2024). "Curious case of the missing monkeys turns spotlight on South Carolina lab". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved November 18, 2024.