1.
Dozens of Monkeys Escape From South Carolina Research Facility
2.Monkeys Go Missing
3.Law enforcement and the Department of Natural Resources are on the hunt for dozens of monkeys that escaped from a research facility in South Carolina, officials said.
4.The animals were being used for research at the SC National Primate Research Center on the campus of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
5.Searching for Missing Primates
6.The search for the missing monkeys began Sunday after officials realized some of the animals were missing during a routine headcount, said Melissa Rollin, a spokeswoman for the primate center.
7.Twenty-five monkeys are still missing, Rollin said Wednesday. Law enforcement officers and wildlife experts are searching an area about 2 miles around the research center, she said.
8.Monkeys Pose No Threat
9.The monkeys are a species called cynomolgus macaques, which are native to Southeast Asia. They are not considered dangerous to humans, Rollin said.
10.However, she said, people should not approach the monkeys if they see them. She said people should call law enforcement or the primate center if they see any of the animals.
11.Reward for Capturing Monkeys
12.The primate center is offering a $100 reward for each monkey that is captured and returned to the facility, Rollin said.
13.Second Monkey Escape in South Carolina
14.This is the second time in recent months that monkeys have escaped from a research facility in South Carolina.
15.In May, several monkeys escaped from the Coulston Foundation Primate Center in Columbia, South Carolina. All of those monkeys were eventually captured and returned to the facility.
