Monkey Business: How 43 escaped scientific research monkeys captured our hearts, and national attention

YEMASSEE, SC — If you live in Hampton County, you know that local legends abound about rogue, runaway primates at the "Yemassee monkey farm," and many locals can't drive by the facility without someone in the car cracking jokes: "Wanna stop and say hello to your relatives?" "If you kids don't quiet down back there I'm going to put you out here with the rest of the monkeys!"

But escaped monkeys are no joke in Hampton and Beaufort counties this week, as local police and town officials alert the public about 43 primates that escaped from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center Wednesday night.

Here’s the latest on the primate jailbreak that captured the heart of many animals lovers, along with national media attention, as well as a bonus segment on South Carolina’s “Monkey Island” off the coast of Beaufort. Keep reading, and listening below, for more.