YEMASSEE, S.C. (WCSC) – It’s been over a month since the 43 female rhesus macaque monkeys escaped Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in Yemassee.
The CEO, Greg Westergaard, says there are four monkeys remaining, but because they appear to be doing well and behaving normally, he’s willing to wait before making decisions to tranquilize them.
Many community members are still living their day-to-day lives without any interruptions because they say it’s normal.
“I am not worried. It really hasn’t crossed my mind much lately,” community member and business owner Charlotte Murray says.
Another community member, Annette Youmans, also owns Carolina Graphics, a graphic design store, right down the road from the facility, and she says for a while now they haven’t been told to lock their doors or any other safety percussions.
“I figure they’re not hurting nobody, they’re fine. I don’t see no trouble with them, and people around here, like I said, we’re not scared of them. Now when there was 43, we were a little nervous, but four of them and they’re staying right there at the place, I mean I think it’s good,” Youmans says.
Youmans says she decided to even make merchandise following what they’re calling “the great escape.”
As they continue to go about their day-to-day lives without any interruptions, Youmans has decided to use this to her business’ benefit.
She says people from the West Coast have ordered her shirts, hats, candles and koozies.
“Business has really been up, everybody’s wanting shirts. I’ve shipped them, and people are still coming,” she says.
Although the community has the overall tone of “it is what it is,” Murray says it’s still normal to wonder what happens behind closed doors.
But she says even if there are general environmental concerns, she keeps in mind that her close friend used to work at Alpha Genesis as a primatologist for years.
“She is a very honest person, someone with integrity and if there was anything untoward going on. She wouldn’t be a part of it,” Murray says.
Westergaard says he’s been out to the woods to sit with the monkeys, feeding them and watching them on a regular basis, and will continue to play the waiting game.
As for the local law enforcement’s involvement, Chief of Police Greg Alexander says they have not played too much of a role in this incident within the last three weeks as well.
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