Photo: Jasper County Sheriff's Department, Mississippi
On Tuesday (October 28), a truck carrying monkeys overturned on Interstate 59 near Heidelberg, Mississippi, leading to the escape of several primates. Initially, six monkeys escaped, but authorities have since accounted for three, leaving three still missing. The monkeys are Rhesus monkeys, commonly used in research due to their genetic similarity to humans.
The accident occurred approximately 100 miles from Jackson, the state capital. It remains unclear what caused the truck to overturn.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department has warned residents that the escaped monkeys are considered dangerous and should not be approached. Officials have advised residents to call 911 if they encounter any of the monkeys.
The monkeys were being transported from the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. The sheriff's office initially stated that the monkeys carried diseases such as herpes and COVID-19, but Tulane University has clarified that the animals are not infectious.
Video footage shows monkeys crawling through tall grass beside the highway, with wooden crates labeled "live animals" scattered around. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, along with other law enforcement agencies, are actively searching for the missing monkeys.
The search continues as authorities work to safely recover the remaining animals.