USDA Cites South Carolina Monkey Farm for Animal Welfare Violations After 22 Monkeys Die
By James Seidel | CC News Network
Federal regulators have determined that Alpha Genesis, a primate research facility in Beaufort County, South Carolina, violated animal welfare laws when 22 monkeys died on a cold night in November. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released an incident report confirming the mass casualties, initially brought to light by animal rights activists.
According to the USDA report, Alpha Genesis failed to provide adequate heating for the primates, violating federal law that mandates primates be housed in a safely temperature-controlled environment. While the agency has not yet announced penalties, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) believes the violations could lead to a substantial fine.
“A critical violation can be the first step in a big fine. Alpha Genesis has previously been cited for critical violations, so at this point, the USDA can refer the matter over to its Investigative and Enforcement Service,” said Dr. Alka Chandna, PETA’s vice president of laboratory investigations.
Investigation Findings and Potential Penalties
The USDA’s report comes nearly two months after inspectors conducted a routine site review following the deaths. Findings from necropsies and histopathology reports revealed that the deceased monkeys were exposed to carbon monoxide, raising further concerns about facility conditions.
The agency has not confirmed whether Alpha Genesis will face penalties, though regulatory precedent suggests a significant fine is possible. The facility currently houses over 6,400 monkeys, including three different breeds, according to the USDA report.
Alpha Genesis’ History of Controversy
This latest incident adds to the growing scrutiny surrounding Alpha Genesis. The company made national headlines in November 2023, when 43 monkeys escaped from the monkey farm through an unsecured fence, prompting a months-long capture effort that ended in late January. That escape, which gained global attention, remains under USDA investigation.
Reports of the 22 primate deaths surfaced weeks later, when whistleblowers alerted PETA, which in turn filed a formal complaint with federal regulators. For nearly a month, Alpha Genesis remained silent on the issue. It was only in December that CEO Greg Westergaard confirmed the deaths in an email to The Post and Courier—though he refused to disclose the number of animals lost.
Lingering Questions and Claims of “Extremist” Interference
The exact cause of the monkey deaths remains unclear. Federal inspectors noted that the facility’s heating unit had been operational the night before, with no reported malfunctions.
Westergaard has since floated the idea that “extremists” may have been responsible, though he has provided no evidence to support the claim.
“We can neither confirm nor deny reports of extremist activity as the root cause of this issue,” Westergaard wrote.
A facility worker who witnessed the deaths described monkeys collapsing—some dying quickly, while others lay unresponsive for hours. Staff members were later tasked with storing the bodies in refrigeration ahead of planned dissections, a process the worker compared to “playing Tetris” due to the sheer number of corpses.
What’s Next?
With the USDA investigation ongoing, questions remain about Alpha Genesis’ compliance with animal welfare laws and whether further penalties will be imposed.
The USDA has yet to release its findings on the November monkey escape, but with two high-profile incidents occurring within months, Alpha Genesis faces mounting scrutiny from regulators and animal rights activists alike.
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