Escaped monkeys carrying diseases killed after truck accident in Mississippi
One monkey is still on the run, officials say
One monkey is still on the run, officials say
One monkey is still on the run, officials say
Several rhesus monkeys that escaped from an overturned truck in Mississippi on Thursday were euthanized, according to officials. One is still on the loose.
"We have been in contact with an animal disposal company to help handle the situation," the Jasper County Sheriff's Office said. "Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries is also on site with our local law enforcement. We are continuing to look for the one monkey that is still on the loose."
The the truck was transporting the monkeys from Tulane University when it overturned on Tuesday on Interstate 59, north of Heidelberg.
The monkeys, weighing approximately 40 pounds each, are aggressive toward humans and require personal protective equipment to handle. The Jasper County Sheriff's Office originally said the monkeys carried hepatitis C, herpes and COVID-19. Tulane officials stressed that the animals were not diseased or infectious.
"Non-human primates at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center are provided to other research organizations to advance scientific discovery. The primates in question belong to another entity and are not infectious. We are actively collaborating with local authorities and will send a team of animal care experts to assist as needed," Tulane University said in a statement.
Sheriff Randy Johnson said 21 monkeys were on the truck. Six of them escaped. Fifteen remained caged after the crash.