JASPER COUNTY, Miss. – Tulane University continued to distance itself from several escaped monkeys on Wednesday.
A truck carrying 21 Rhesus Macaques crashed on I-59 in Mississippi on Tuesday afternoon. Three of those monkeys were unaccounted for when animal care experts from Tulane University arrived on the scene.
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The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office originally reported that the monkeys had hepatitis C, herpes, and COVID, and that anyone who came into contact with the monkeys should be wearing protective equipment. Tulane University quickly disputed that claim, saying that the monkeys were not infectious.
The university clarified even further on Wednesday, saying that “The primates in question were not carrying any diseases and had received recent checkups confirming that they were pathogen-free.”
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office said they were told by the driver of that crashed truck that the monkeys were infected and aggressive toward humans.
“We took the appropriate actions after being given that information from the person transporting the monkeys,” the sheriff’s office said.
Tulane University said that its National Biomedical Research Center does provide nonhuman primates to other research organizations “to advance scientific discovery,” but that the monkeys involved in the crash were “not being transported by Tulane, not owned by Tulane, and not in Tulane’s custody.”
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks said that they are assisting local authorities in their efforts to capture the remaining monkeys. Rhesus Macaques, the wildlife agency warned, are known to be aggressive. They advised the public to avoid any contact with the animals and not to approach them if they encounter the monkeys. Residents who see the monkeys should call 1-800-BE-SMART.
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