Police Searching for 40 Escaped Monkeys After Mass Breakout from South Carolina Research Facility

Around 40 monkeys have escaped from a research facility in South Carolina, and authorities are urging residents to be on the lookout.

What happened?

The monkeys escaped from the SC National Primate Research Center on Friday, according to a statement from the University of South Carolina. The monkeys are cynomolgus macaques, a species that is native to Southeast Asia. They are used in research on a variety of topics, including infectious diseases, neuroscience, and reproductive biology.

The monkeys escaped after a power outage caused the locks on their cages to fail. The power outage was caused by a storm that hit the area on Thursday night.

What are authorities doing?

The university and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources are working together to locate and capture the monkeys. They have set up traps and are using drones to search the area.

The monkeys are not considered to be a threat to humans, but they can carry diseases. Anyone who sees a monkey is urged to call 911 immediately.

What should residents do?

Residents in the area should be on the lookout for monkeys and report any sightings to the authorities. They should also keep their doors and windows locked, and avoid leaving food or other items that could attract the monkeys.