One monkey that fled following a truck accident in Mississippi last week was fatally shot by a homeowner on Sunday out of concern for her children’s safety. Jessica Bond Ferguson, alerted by her son, spotted the monkey in their yard near Heidelberg, prompting her to shoot it when it stood still. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident but provided limited details, with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks taking custody of the monkey.
The monkeys were being transported from Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, a facility that supplies primates for scientific research. The truck overturned on Interstate 59, resulting in the deaths of most of the 21 monkeys onboard. Three monkeys escaped, prompting authorities to search for them. Despite initial concerns about diseases, the monkeys were confirmed pathogen-free, though the sheriff emphasized the need to “neutralize” them due to their aggressive behavior.
Rhesus monkeys, weighing around seven kilograms, are extensively studied medically. Videos post-accident showed monkeys near the interstate, with Sheriff Randy Johnson stressing the need to address their aggressive nature. Past incidents at Tulane involving biosecurity breaches raised concerns, leading to changes in procedures and staff training. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks are collaborating with law enforcement to locate the escaped monkeys.
Notably, the recent event parallels a similar escape in South Carolina last year, where 43 Rhesus macaques broke free due to human error. Measures are being taken to capture the escaped monkeys, highlighting the importance of securing primate facilities to prevent such incidents.