Rhesus macaques
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Thursday released the following statement regarding the escape of 43 monkeys from Alpha Genesis, a research facility in Yemassee, South Carolina:
"Don’t believe monkey experimenter Alpha Genesis: so-called “SPF” or “specific pathogen free” monkeys in U.S. laboratories routinely have outbreaks of tuberculosis, MRSA, bacterial pathogens that can cause dysentery, herpes B, simian retroviruses, highly pathogenic E. coli, malaria, Chagas, Listeria, and more. Insiders tell us these monkeys are owned by the National Institutes of Health, which pays Alpha Genesis to confine and experiment on them. But even government-supported primate laboratories are chronically understaffed and poorly trained because few people are willing to collaborate in the ongoing imprisonment and abuse of monkeys. Deprived of all that matters to them, these monkeys were leading a miserable existence—and now the 43 scared, cold, and hungry monkeys are on the loose. The monkey experimentation industry has consistently failed to improve human health, and instead their actions continue to put the public at risk. NIH must end its funding for experiments on monkeys and Alpha Genesis must be shut down now."
In addition, PETA on Friday released a follow-up statement from PETA primate scientist Dr. Lisa Jones-Engel:
"Alpha Genesis’ public statements about the escaped monkeys are putting residents of South Carolina at risk and are in direct contrast to what authorities have recently seen at the company’s facility. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited Alpha Genesis more than 20 times in the last 10 years for violating federal animal welfare regulations that are in place to protect animal and human health.
In January 2023, officials noted during an inspection that facility enclosures were filthy and stated that the 'lack of proper cleaning and sanitization can lead to harboring of disease-causing organisms.' The agency also cited Alpha Genesis because accumulated debris and monkey waste could 'foster breeding grounds for pests and can impact the health of the animals housed in the enclosures.'
These young rhesus macaques may not have been intentionally infected with viruses or bacteria in experiments yet, but like all monkeys caught up in the primate experimentation industry, they can carry pathogens that can sicken humans and other animals.
These 43 monkeys made a break for freedom and deserve to live out the rest of their lives safely. Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary in Texas has contacted Alpha Genesis, offering to work with it to provide the animals with a suitable home. This is the only acceptable outcome for these monkeys who have been caught up in this disastrous facility that the USDA has fined for escapes and injuries.
