UPDATE 10AM OCTOBER 29 ——–
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office responded to a statement from Tulane University denying that the monkeys were infected with COVID or other illnesses. Police said that the driver of the truck hauling the monkeys informed local law enforcement that the animals were dangerous to humans.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE ——–
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department (JCSD) is responding to a Tuesday afternoon crash that allowed several lab monkeys to escape onto a Mississippi interstate.
Shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28, JCSD reported that a “truck hauling monkeys from Tulane University has overturned around the 117 mile marker [on I-59] north of Heidelberg.”
“This was a truck carrying Rhesus monkeys from Tulane University. The monkeys are approximately 40 lbs, they are aggressive to humans and they require PPE to handle. The monkeys carry hepatitis C, herpes, and COVID,” JCSO said.
An update from approximately 2 p.m. said that all but one of the escaped monkeys had been destroyed.
Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries is on site as police continue to search for the remaining animal.
Tulane University will send a team tomorrow to retrieve the monkeys that are still caged.
Drivers are advised not to approach if they see the remaining monkey and to instead call 911.
Follow JCSD for the latest information on the escaped monkeys.