Aggressive escaped monkeys killed after truck accident in Heidelberg

5:10 PM CDT Oct 28, 2025

JASPER COUNTY, Miss. —

All but one of the rhesus monkeys that escaped from an overturned truck in Jasper County were euthanized, according to officials.

"We have been in contact with an animal disposal company to help handle the situation," the Jasper County Sheriff's Office said. "Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries is also on-site with our local law enforcement. We are continuing to look for the one monkey that is still on the loose."

The Jasper County Sheriff's Office said the truck was transporting the monkeys from Tulane University when it overturned on Tuesday, Oct. 28 on Interstate 59 near mile marker 117, north of Heidelberg. 

The monkeys, weighing approximately 40 pounds each, are aggressive toward humans and require personal protective equipment to handle. 

"Non-human primates at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center are provided to other research organizations to advance scientific discovery. The primates in question belong to another entity and are not infectious. We are actively collaborating with local authorities and will send a team of animal care experts to assist as needed," Tulane University said in a statement.

Sheriff Randy Johnson said 21 monkeys were on the truck. Six of them escaped. Fifteen remained caged after the crash.

"The monkey that got away actually crossed interstate, went out into a wooded area," Johnson told ABC News.

The Jasper County Sheriff's Office originally said the monkeys carried hepatitis C, herpes and COVID. Tulane officials stressed that the animals were not diseased or infectious.

Source : https://www.wapt.com/article/monkeys-on-the-loose-near-heidelberg-mississippi/69181629