YEMASSEE, S.C. — Authorities report that only eight monkeys remain unaccounted for following a breakout from a South Carolina breeding facility dedicated to raising primates for medical research.

On Wednesday, three more Rhesus macaques were captured nearby the Alpha Genesis compound in Yemassee, according to a police statement.

The incident occurred on November 6, when a worker at the facility—informally referred to as “the monkey farm” by locals—failed to securely lock the enclosure, allowing 43 monkeys to escape.

To entice the monkeys back, officials have been using treats like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, among other items.

All of the recaptured monkeys have undergone health examinations and are reportedly in good condition, as confirmed by employees at Alpha Genesis.

A small group of monkeys remains outside the fenced area near traps that have been set in the surrounding woods. According to police, employees at Alpha Genesis can hear them cooing as they monitor the situation.

The facility has stated that its retrieval efforts will persist as long as necessary at the compound, which is located approximately a mile from downtown Yemassee and about 50 miles northeast of Savannah, Georgia.

These monkeys, roughly the size of a domestic cat, are all females and weigh about 7 pounds each.

Rhesus macaques have been utilized in scientific research since the late 1800s, and studies suggest that they diverged from a common ancestor with humans around 25 million years ago, sharing approximately 93% of their DNA.

Officials from Alpha Genesis, along with federal health representatives and law enforcement, have assured the public that the monkeys do not pose any health risks. The facility breeds these monkeys to supply medical institutions and researchers.

People who may encounter the monkeys are advised to avoid approaching them and to refrain from flying drones in the vicinity, as the animals can be easily startled and might flee from areas where they congregate.