Police respond to fears of “infectious” monkeys on the loose after truck crash

Authorities in Mississippi are searching for three missing lab monkeys after a transport truck carrying the animals crashed on Oct. 28. Six monkeys escaped the vehicle, and half of them were later destroyed, according to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department.

The department shared on Facebook that Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries officers were assisting local law enforcement. An animal disposal company is also involved as the search continues for the remaining monkey.

Officials initially warned that the rhesus monkeys weighed around 40 pounds and were considered diseased and aggressive toward humans, but that was later debunked by research center officials.

Sheriff says initial health concerns came from driver

According to reports, the primates were being transferred from the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center to another research organization.

Tulane said the animals “are not infectious” and confirmed they do not belong to the university itself. The school added that its staff will work with authorities as needed.

Facebook: Yemassee Police Department

The sheriff’s department said earlier information about potential diseases, such as hepatitis C and herpes, came from the truck driver, who told officers that protective equipment was required to handle the monkeys.

Back in November 2024, 43 rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from the Alpha Genesis research facility in South Carolina, but were recovered in the following weeks.