Number of escaped monkeys still missing rises to three after truck crash
By Angela Williams
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JASPER COUNTY, Mississippi (WAPT) — Authorities say three monkeys remain on the loose after a truck transporting research animals from Tulane University overturned Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 59, north of Heidelberg.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Tuesday evening that the number of missing monkeys has increased from one to three after Tulane officials were able to safely access the wrecked truck and conduct an updated count. Tulane staff arrived at the scene earlier than originally expected and are now actively searching the area for the missing animals.
The sheriff’s office warned that the monkeys have “several conditions” and are considered dangerous to humans. Residents are urged not to approach them and to call law enforcement immediately if they are spotted.
“We are doing our best to update the public, but we are still in the midst of gathering all pertinent information,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “We will continue to release updates as we get more information.”
The crash led to the escape of six of the 21 monkeys on board. Three have since been recovered, while the remaining three are still unaccounted for.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office originally said the monkeys carried hepatitis C, herpes and COVID. Tulane officials stressed that the animals were not diseased or infectious.
“The driver of the truck told local law enforcement that the monkeys were dangerous and posed a threat to humans,” the sheriff’s office said. “We took the the appropriate actions after being given that information from the person transporting the monkeys. He also stated that you had wear PPE equipment to handle the monkeys.”
Animal rights group PETA issued a statement following the crash, calling the escape a clear example of what it described as the risks of the “greedy monkey experimentation industry.”
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