On Tuesday, a truck transporting monkeys overturned on a highway in Mississippi, resulting in the animals escaping from captivity, as reported by local law enforcement.
The Jasper County Sheriff”s Department announced on Facebook that most of the monkeys were killed, noting that the escaped animals were “aggressive.” The exact number of monkeys involved and the number that perished remains unclear.
The truck was carrying Rehsus monkeys, which typically weigh around 16 pounds and are frequently used in medical research due to their biological similarities to humans. These monkeys were housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, which regularly supplies primates for scientific research.
Details regarding the transport and destination of the monkeys are currently unknown. Video footage shows the monkeys moving through the tall grass adjacent to Interstate 59, just north of Heidelberg, Mississippi, with wooden crates marked “live animals” scattered around the scene.
Initially, the sheriff”s department suggested that the monkeys might carry diseases, including herpes; however, Tulane University later clarified that the monkeys “are not infectious.” Local law enforcement officials have not provided further clarification on this matter.
Tulane University confirmed that they are collaborating with local law enforcement and that the Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries department is also present at the site of the incident. The accident occurred roughly 100 miles from Jackson, the state capital. Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the truck”s overturning.
