HEIDELBERG, Miss. (AP) — Three Rhesus monkeys remained on the loose in Mississippi on Wednesday following an incident where a truck transporting the research animals overturned. The accident occurred near Heidelberg, approximately 100 miles from Jackson, the state capital.
As of midday Tuesday, reports indicated that all but one of the escaped monkeys had been killed. However, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department provided an update, revealing that officials from Tulane University, which housed the monkeys, confirmed that three monkeys had successfully escaped from the trailer. This contradicts initial information provided by the truck's occupants, who had warned that the monkeys were dangerous and likely infected with diseases.
Tulane University officials clarified that the monkeys were not infectious. However, Sheriff Randy Johnson noted that the animals still required "neutralization" because of their inherently aggressive nature. Rhesus monkeys typically weigh around 16 pounds (8 kilograms) and are known to be extensively studied within the medical research community.
Details are still unclear regarding how many monkeys were initially on the truck, who owned them, who was responsible for their transport, and the purpose of their relocation. The monkeys were being housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center, which is known for supplying primates to various scientific research organizations. Tulane University, in statements released to the media, emphasized that it neither owned nor transported the monkeys in question.
Video footage from the scene depicted the monkeys navigating through tall grass adjacent to Interstate 59, with wooden crates labeled "live animals" scattered and damaged. The search for the missing monkeys is actively being conducted by university officials in collaboration with local authorities. The remainder of the monkeys involved in the transport are being returned to a facility located in Louisiana.
The sheriff's office has advised the public to refrain from approaching the monkeys if spotted and to immediately contact authorities. As concerns around the incident continue, it remains uncertain what caused the truck to overturn originally.
