Monkeys!
Planet of the Apes in real life: forty monkeys escape from South Carolina lab
Reality surpasses fiction: a group of monkeys has escaped from a pharmaceutical laboratory in South Carolina, USA, in a scene reminiscent of films such as ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ or ‘28 Days Later’.
Sometimes reality surpasses fiction, as this event proves. A group of forty monkeys have escaped from a pharmaceutical lab in Yemassee, a small town in South Carolina. Although it may seem like the synopsis of a horror movie, this is a very real news story that has led many to draw parallels with movies such as ‘Planet of the Apes’, ‘28 Days Later’ or ‘Outbreak’, where primates have played a leading role due to their dangerous nature.
Forty monkeys escape from a pharmaceutical lab in the United States
A large group of monkeys has escaped from a pharmaceutical lab in Yemassee, South Carolina. This news, which sounds like the premise of a movie with apocalyptic overtones, is completely real, according to People magazine. On November 6, the Yemassee Police Department confirmed in a Facebook post that forty primates had escaped from the Alpha Genesis facility and were still missing. It is unknown how the escape occurred, but human error has not been ruled out.
This post from the authorities also reported on measures being taken to ensure public safety, such as setting traps and using thermal cameras to locate and recapture the animals. Residents were also advised to keep their doors and windows tightly shut to prevent any of the monkeys from entering their homes. Although it is not known if the animals carry any pathogens that can be transmitted to humans, it is best to avoid any contact with these animals as they can be dangerous and unpredictable.
As can be seen on the official website of Alpha Genesis, it is a pharmaceutical company that uses primates for medical research. Their work includes biomedical research using these animals and the production and collection of biological products for various applications derived from these animals, such as serum, blood plasma, blood or live tissue samples.
The news has been particularly striking on social media, as this unusual event bears a striking resemblance to the premise of some disturbing disaster or horror films, such as ‘28 Days Later’ (2002) or ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ (2011). For many, this event has blurred the line between reality and fiction, highlighting that a relatively minor incident with these animals can cause a domino effect that has both unpredictable and devastating consequences for both the human species and the biosphere.