The news of 43 rhesus macaque monkeys escaping the Alpha Genesis laboratory breeding centre in South Carolina on the 6th November has made global headlines.
Whilst the coverage has largely avoided detail on the individual primates and the research procedures primates such as these are subjected to; the vast majority of commentators have sided with the primates, hoping they avoid re-capture and expressing opposition to their use in research.
This opposition is not surprising. In 2021, a petition calling for a ban on primate experimentation with over 100,000 signatures with tabled in the Australian Senate. A 2022 Survey revealed that only 21% of those surveyed think it is acceptable to use small primates for experimental medical research to benefit people.
At the time of publishing, one macaque has been re-captured. This is apparently not the first incident of primates escaping from the Alpha Genesis laboratory breeding centre. As the Associated Press reports, federal officials fined the company in 2018 after dozens of primates escaped one of its facilities. Nineteen primates went on the run in 2016 in addition to 26 in 2014.
The USDA fined Alpha Genesis $12,600 for incidents that occurred between December 2014 and February 2016. Documents from the federal government mentioned improperly secured enclosures and dehydration. The records highlighted a violation that led to 26 monkeys escaping in December 2014. A monkey was placed into the incorrect social group in August 2015 and was killed by other monkeys.
In Australia, there are three primate breeding facilities which breed primates for biomedical research in NSW. Limited transparency means that any violations are not made public, but freedom of information requests have revealed distributing incidents at the Monash primate breeding facility specifically.
Whilst Alpha Genesis may be calling for a ‘happy ending’ with the return of the primates to the facility; the only way this can be achieved is via rehoming of the primates to a sanctuary. Born Free USA has offered to accommodate the primates at their sanctuary in south Texas. Join the action here.
What is clear is that the general public does not know that primate research is occurring. Once a situation occurs which draws public attention to this use, questions start to be asked. Primate breeding facilities may be hidden from public view, both in the US and Australia. Yet we collectively have the power to call for an end to this harm of sentient, intelligent animals.
Find out more about AFSA’s campaign to end primate experimentation here.