In a wild twist for small-town South Carolina, authorities in Yemassee are scrambling to track down 40 monkeys that broke free from Alpha Genesis, a local research facility.

Asreported by NBC News, the primates made their great escape on Wednesday night, setting off a full-scale search effort by law enforcement and facility staff alike.

Alpha Genesis, known for providing “nonhuman primate products and bio-research services,” now faces the challenge of retrieving its runaway primates.

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The company specializes in clinical trials, including research on brain disease disorders, and manages one of the largest primate facilities in the United States, primarily housing macaque and capuchin monkeys.

The Yemassee Sheriff’s Department, which is coordinating the search, has taken an assertive approach to warn locals.

“Residents are strongly advised to keep doors and windows secured to prevent these animals from entering homes,” read an official statement. Authorities urge anyone spotting one of the elusive escapees to avoid interaction and instead call 911.

In an effort to locate the monkeys, officers have deployed thermal imaging cameras and set traps around the area. While the breed of the fugitives hasn’t been confirmed, Alpha Genesis has an extensive population of macaques and capuchins, as stated on its website.

As of now, the company has yet to respond to media requests for additional information about the circumstances of the breakout or whether the monkeys could pose any health risks.

Alpha Genesis, which holds a federal contract to manage a colony of 3,500 monkeys on Morgan Island, dubbed “Monkey Island,” isn’t new to animal escape incidents. The Post and Courier, a local newspaper, noted that the facility has experienced several similar breaches over the years.

Notably, in 2016, 19 monkeys managed to flee but were rounded up within six hours. Even more recently, in May, a few primates found temporary freedom before being recaptured.

These primate escapades are not unique to South Carolina. Last year, in rural Pennsylvania, a vehicle accident led to the escape of three monkeys, adding to a growing list of mishaps involving captive primates.

For now, the residents of Yemassee remain on high alert as the search continues, with law enforcement determined to bring this primate escapade to a close before it becomes a bigger monkey business.