On Nov. 6, 43 out of a research group of 50 monkeys escaped from a Yemassee, South Carolina research facility. The primates, all females between six and seven pounds, escaped from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center after a caretaker left a door open. Daniel Vance, who works near the research facility, was on his lunch break when he reported strange movement coming from the surrounding wooded area. After taking a closer look, Vance began to record, realizing he was witnessing dozens of escaped monkeys on the run. He and a coworker reported the occurrence to Alpha Genesis.

Speaking to CBS News, Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard said, “It’s really like follow-the-leader. You see one go and the others go…I couldn’t believe it, to be honest with you.”

According to CNN, Westergaard claimed that the company is using humane traps to try to lure the monkeys with food. Humane traps, also known as have-a-heart traps, reportedly remove unwanted animals without harming them. 

Police warned South Carolinians to “secure doors and windows” to maintain safety. They also asked people to call 911 upon spotting the monkeys and to refrain from approaching them to prevent further frightening the primates.

However, this is not the first or second occurrence of monkeys escaping the Alpha Genesis facility. In 2014, 26 of the primates got loose but were returned within 24 hours and, not long after in 2016, 19 monkeys broke free due to a poor cage door. Those monkeys were soon found and returned to the facility six hours later. Alpha Genesis was fined $12,600 in 2016 for the escaped animals and was given two charges of animal endangerment for the severe dehydration and death of multiple escaped primates.