A truck hauling monkeys from Tulane University in New Orleans flipped on a Mississippi highway, freeing several large, “aggressive” monkeys.<\/p>\n
After the wreck, which happened north of Heidelberg, multiple rhesus monkeys escaped into the community, according to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.<\/p>\n
“The monkeys are approximately 40lbs, they are aggressive to humans, and they require PPE [personal protective equipment] to handle,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a Facebook post.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The animals carry hepatitis C, herpes and COVID, deputies said.<\/p>\n
As of 4:30 p.m. ET, all but one of the escaped monkeys were “destroyed,” according to deputies.<\/p>\n
“We are continuing to look for the one monkey that is still on the loose,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a Facebook post. “Do not approach the monkeys if you see one. Call 911.”<\/p>\n
Tulane University told Fox News Digital the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center provides its nonhuman primates to other research organizations to advance scientific discovery.<\/p>\n
“The primates in question belong to another entity and are not infectious,” the university said.<\/p>\n
“We are actively collaborating with local authorities and will send a team of animal care experts to assist as needed.”<\/p>\n
School officials did not confirm the number of monkeys that escaped, the number of monkeys killed or the number of monkeys that remain caged.<\/p>\n
Officials said they have been in contact with an animal disposal company to “help handle the situation.”<\/p>\n
The sheriff’s office responded to a Facebook comment from a concerned citizen asking if the post was a joke.<\/p>\n
“Unfortunately not,” the sheriff’s office replied.<\/p>\n
Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries responded along with local law enforcement.<\/p>\n
The sheriff’s office told Fox News Digital it will continue to provide updates.<\/p>\n