Federal agency looks into complaints about SC monkey farm

YEMASIE, South Carolina (WCSC) – The USDA is investigating a complaint against a research facility where 43 monkeys escaped earlier this month.

An organization for the ethical treatment of animals has filed a whistleblower complaint against the Yemassi Alpha Genesis Primate Center with a federal agency.

In PETA’s first written complaint to the USDA, 20 monkeys died due to a problem with the heating equipment in one of the Alpha Genesis buildings. A PETA representative said it had received reports from whistleblowers that the death toll ranged from 18 to 22.

PETA said it is asking the USDA to investigate the new allegations of misconduct.

“I can confirm that we recently received a complaint with several detailed allegations and that we are looking into them,” USDA spokesman R. Andre Bell.

Over the past 10 years, the facility has received more than $130 million from the Department of Health and Human Services, with most of that funding coming from taxpayer dollars.

“Alpha Genesis has repeatedly failed to meet even the minimum standards of animal welfare,” PETA said in a statement. “It’s time to cut funding and end this cruelty.”

Alpha Genesis did not respond to requests for comment on the complaints or a possible investigation.

On November 7, forty-three rhesus macaques escaped from the facility. The company’s CEO, Dr. Greg Westergaard, attributed the escape to human error after confirming that there was no structural failure in the cell where the monkeys were kept.

Most of the monkeys have been captured, but at last report eight monkeys were still on the loose.