A chilling scene unfolded along a Mississippi highway as a search continued Wednesday for three Rhesus monkeys that escaped after a transport truck overturned. Initial reports suggested only one monkey remained at large, but a subsequent check revealed a far more unsettling truth: three of the primates were still loose.
The initial panic stemmed from warnings that the monkeys were potentially dangerous and carried infectious diseases. However, authorities clarified that while the animals weren’t infectious, their aggressive nature necessitated their capture. The priority shifted from disease control to public safety.
These aren’t ordinary animals. Rhesus monkeys are vital to medical research, typically weighing around sixteen pounds and representing one of the most extensively studied species on Earth. The details surrounding their journey – the total number transported, the owner, the destination, and the purpose of the shipment – remain shrouded in mystery.
The monkeys originated from the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center, a facility that routinely supplies primates for scientific study. Tulane officials insist they neither owned nor transported the animals, adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding situation.
Footage from the crash site showed the monkeys scrambling through dense roadside grass, surrounded by splintered wooden crates marked “live animals.” The scene painted a picture of chaos and escape. On Wednesday, the truck itself was gone, but teams in protective gear – white coats, gloves, and hairnets – continued a meticulous search alongside law enforcement.
University representatives are actively assisting in the hunt, while the remaining monkeys are being returned to a research facility in Louisiana. The incident occurred approximately one hundred miles from Jackson, the state capital, and the Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the truck’s initial crash.
Authorities urge anyone who spots a monkey to immediately contact law enforcement and maintain a safe distance. Approaching these animals is strongly discouraged, emphasizing the potential risk they pose.
The search continues, a stark reminder of the hidden world of animal research and the unexpected consequences when it intersects with the public landscape.
