One monkey rescued, 42 still at large after South Carolina lab incident

One of 43 monkeys bred for medical research that escaped from a compound in South Carolina has been safely recovered, according to officials on Saturday.

The remaining monkeys are still nearby, playfully jumping back and forth over the facility's fence, as reported by police.

The Rhesus macaques made their escape on Wednesday after an employee at the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee failed to fully secure a door while feeding them. Since then, the monkeys have been seen exploring the outer perimeter of the compound and interacting with those still inside, which officials are considering a positive sign.

“The monkeys were observed cooing at their companions inside the facility,” said police in their statement.

Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard confirmed that recovery efforts would continue throughout the weekend until all animals are accounted for.

The monkeys, all females weighing around 7 pounds and roughly the size of a cat, pose no risk to public health, according to federal health officials and local authorities. The facility breeds these animals for researchers in various fields worldwide.