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In a bizarre and tragic incident, several aggressive lab monkeys were shot and killed after escaping from a transport truck accident in Jasper County, Mississippi. The escaping monkeys were shot by local authorities, who feared they were infected.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department reported that the monkeys were initially believed to be infected with herpes, hepatitis C, and COVID-19, prompting officers to take immediate safety precautions. 

“The driver informed us that the monkeys were dangerous and should only be handled using protective gear,” the department stated.

However, Tulane University later clarified that the primates had “not been exposed to any infectious agent,” contradicting the initial assumption that led to their destruction.

Only one monkey remains on the loose.

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Aggressive Rhesus Monkeys Shot After Escape

The monkeys escaped Tuesday when a truck transporting them overturned on a Mississippi highway, about 100 miles south of Jackson. The exact cause of the crash remains unclear. Officials said all but one of the primates had been “destroyed or killed” following the accident.

Authorities described the animals as Rhesus monkeys, weighing around 16 pounds each — a species widely used in biomedical research. According to Tulane, the monkeys were being housed at its National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, though the university emphasized they were not owned or transported by Tulane.

Tulane and Wildlife Officials Respond

Following the crash, Tulane officials issued a statement confirming collaboration with Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, and local law enforcement. “Our top priority is ensuring public safety and transparency,” the university said.

Residents have been warned not to approach or attempt to capture the remaining monkey. As of Wednesday, search efforts were ongoing in the wooded area near the crash site.

Local wildlife experts said the incident highlights the need for stricter animal transport regulations, particularly for laboratory animals. “This could have ended far worse,” one official remarked. “Luckily, there was no confirmed health risk.”

For Additional Details:

Monkeys on the loose in MS are not carrying Herpes, Covid, Tulane says

Escaped monkeys 'destroyed' after Mississippi police are mistakenly told they're a danger