43 Primates Escaped, Sparking Surge in Monkey-Themed Coins

On Wednesday, authorities in Yemassee, South Carolina, alerted the public that over 40 rhesus macaque monkeys had escaped from the Alpha Genesis research facility.

Now, a troop of elusive primates is on the loose, sparking both intrigue and a surge in monkey-themed meme coins.

The Solana-based Monkey token jumped 49% on Thursday and remains up 37% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap.

Other monkey-based coins like monkeyhaircut (MONK) is up 22.9%, Monkey Pox (POX) is up 0.8%, Crazy Monkey (CMONK) is up 7.4%, and so on.

Speculation is rife, with some on X (formerly known as Twitter) suggesting a government plot, while others claim the escape was part of the monkeys' elaborate plan.

But what are these primates really after?

The Yemassee Police Department said on Facebook:

“Residents are urged to keep their doors and windows securely closed and to report any sightings immediately by dialing 911. Please do not attempt to approach these animals under any circumstances.”

At the time of writing, the monkeys are still on the loose.

A Pure Accident or a Conspiracy? Community Happy to Weigh In

On 6 November 2024, Yemassee Police were alerted by Alpha Genesis that 43 rhesus macaque monkeys had mysteriously broken free from their enclosures at the facility on Castle Hall Road.

Alpha Genesis, known for its use of monkeys in clinical trials for brain disorders, now finds itself facing an unexpected twist reminiscent of the 1995 thriller Outbreak.

How these primates managed their escape remains a mystery, with the monkeys themselves staying mum.

Though unlikely to be a grand conspiracy or the onset of a new pandemic, the community has not hesitated to spin their theories, even if the reality may be as simple as a latch left unlocked.