A transport truck and its load of rhesus monkeys overturned Tuesday on Interstate 59 north of Heidelberg, Mississippi, resulting in a dramatic escape of several primates. The incident triggered a multi-agency response, including law-enforcement, wildlife officials and animal-care experts.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office initially reported the monkeys as “aggressive,” weighing approximately 40 lbs each, and warned the public to avoid approaching them without protective gear. Authorities first claimed the animals carried hepatitis C, herpes and COVID-19—though later a university disclosed the monkeys had not been exposed to any pathogens.
Signs of distress and broken crates marked the crash site, where video showed the primates crawling into fields and brush. While many were captured or humanely euthanised, at least three remain at large, and the search continues across nearby wooded and low-light areas.
Officials have confirmed the monkeys originated with a research-institution network in New Orleans and were en route to a different facility, though neither the transporter nor the owners were publicly identified. The cause of the truck’s overturn remains under investigation.
Local residents have been instructed to stay vigilant, report any sightings from a safe distance and not attempt to engage the animals. Wildlife officials say the latest event raises broader questions about the safety and oversight of live-animal road transport.