U.S. Mississippi Police Kill Escaped Research Monkeys
(MENAFN) Authorities in Mississippi have killed several research monkeys after they escaped from an overturned truck on Tuesday, following false reports that the primates carried dangerous diseases.
The incident occurred on Interstate 59 near Heidelberg, roughly 160 km from Jackson, when a vehicle transporting rhesus monkeys from Tulane University’s National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans tipped over.
According to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, the truck driver told deputies that the animals were “dangerous and posed a threat to humans” and claimed they carried diseases including hepatitis C, herpes, and Covid, and should only be handled using protective equipment. Acting on that information, law enforcement said it took “appropriate actions.” Officials later confirmed that most of the monkeys were “destroyed.”
Tulane University clarified that the monkeys were not directly under its care and were “not infectious.” The university added that the primates “belong to another entity and have not been exposed to any infectious agent.” “We are actively collaborating with local authorities and are sending a team of animal care experts to assist,” the statement said.
After officials accessed the overturned truck and conducted a proper count, the sheriff’s department reported that three monkeys had escaped, with all but one later killed.
Video from the scene shows wooden crates labeled “live animals” strewn along the roadside, with monkeys moving through tall grass. The sheriff’s office noted that it had contacted an animal disposal company to remove carcasses from the area.
Rhesus monkeys, commonly used in biomedical research, typically weigh 5-7 kg and measure around 50 cm in length. The New England Primate Conservancy describes the species as “curious” and “highly intelligent,” noting their ability to adapt alongside humans.
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