“Congresswoman Nancy Mace sent a letter to the USDA and NIH demanding a briefing after a recent escape of 43 monkeys from the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee, SC. The incident, which left several primates unaccounted for seven days after their escape, is only the latest in a long list of violations from this USDA and NIH-funded laboratory. ‘For years, Alpha Genesis has racked up federal contracts and taxpayer dollars while consistently violating animal welfare laws and exposing the public to dangerous escapes,’ said Rep Nancy Mace. ‘NIH and USDA need to step up and ensure South Carolinians don’t bear the risk of this lab’s negligence,'” says Mace’s office in a statement.
“Despite receiving over $110 million in taxpayer funding since 2008 – including $19 million this year alone – Alpha Genesis has a disturbing history of animal welfare violations and public safety risks. Housing over 10,000 primates, including 3,300 on NIH’s controversial Monkey Island, the lab has faced frequent federal citations for unsafe enclosures, poor veterinary care, and preventable animal deaths. Yet oversight remains minimal, with recent inspections confirming multiple violations, including escaped primates and fatal neglect,” the statement continued.
The lab and local officials have caught 35 of the 43 escaped monkeys as of Thursday night.