BEAUFORT COUNTY, SC (WTOC) – The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office needs help locating 43 rhesus monkey primates that escaped from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center on Wednesday.

According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, they are working with Yemassee Police, Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center staff and state agriculture and wildlife officials to locate these primates.

At around 10am on Thursday morning, not a single primate had been captured.

Yemassee police say they have set up traps in the area and are using thermal imaging cameras to locate the primates.

Yemassee Police advise all residents to keep doors and windows closed to prevent the primates from entering homes.

The sheriff’s office is asking for the public’s help to locate these primates and return them safely to their enclosures.

If you encounter any of the animals, call 911 immediately and do not attempt to come into contact with them.

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