Three laboratory Rhesus monkeys are actively being sought in Mississippi, authorities confirmed, after correcting an earlier report that stated only one remained at large following a truck crash last October.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office issued the updated count after officials from Tulane University inspected the overturned animal transport crates. The incident occurred on a state highway in Jasper County.
Sheriff Randy Johnson emphasized that the monkeys, while not carriers of dangerous diseases, are aggressive. He explained that authorities needed to “dispose of” other escaped primates because of their hostile behavior and potential danger to the public.
The animals originated from the Tulane National Primate Research Center. This facility, located in Covington, Louisiana, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of New Orleans, supplies research institutions with animals.
The truck accident on October 29 led to some of the monkeys escaping into nearby forested areas. Initial local reports had indicated that most escaped primates had been captured or eliminated, with only one remaining at large.