BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) – The CEO of a research facility where 43 primates escaped said Sunday night that more than half of them have been captured.

Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard confirmed that 25 monkeys were captured on Sunday evening.

“All are in good health,” he said. “Others stay close in trees.”

Yemassee police received a report around 1 p.m. Wednesday that a group of rhesus monkeys had escaped from their enclosures at the Alpha Genesis Research Center. The facility, located off Castle Hall Road, is minutes from the small town of Yemassee.

Teams from Alpha Genesis have been monitoring the area where the monkeys remained and are said to have been looking for staffers.

Alpha Genesis crews continue to try to trap them with food.

“Our efforts will continue for as long as necessary,” Westergaard said.

This is a development story. Check back for updates.

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