Monkeys escape Yemassee research facility

Nineteen monkeys escaped from the Alpha Genesis research facility in Yemassee on Sunday before being lured back to the facility that evening.

Though the monkeys broke out of a cage around 1:30 p.m., all had been captured or returned to the facility grounds and were accounted for by 7:30 p.m., said Yemassee Police Chief Gregory Alexander, who helped patrol and search for the primates while they were on the loose. While not all of the monkeys were caged Sunday evening - some were spotted in trees - he said they would not be able to escape the facility’s property again.

None of the monkeys were injured in the incident, Alexander said.

The breakout was the result of a broken or loose cage, he said. Six of the monkeys have been captured, according to the Yemassee Police Department.

“It’s not the first time it’s happened,” Alexander said. “They come back because they knew where the food’s at.”

This story was originally published May 1, 2016 at 8:28 PM with the headline "Monkeys escape Yemassee research facility."