A truck carrying rhesus monkeys overturned on a Mississippi highway Tuesday morning, sparking chaos as several animals escaped and were quickly killed by authorities, who acted on false information that they were diseased and dangerous.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department stated that all but one of the escaped monkeys were destroyed after the accident on Interstate 59, about 100 miles east of Jackson. Residents were warned that the primates were “aggressive,” while initial reports incorrectly tied the shipment to Tulane University. Tulane later clarified that the animals were not infected and not affiliated with the university.
“The primates in question belong to another entity, and they have not been exposed to any infectious agent,” the university said in a statement to NBC News. “The non-human primates were NOT being transported by Tulane, but we are actively collaborating with local authorities and are sending a team of animal care experts to assist.”
The crash happened near Heidelberg, Mississippi. Videos posted online showed rhesus monkeys scurrying through grass by the interstate. Crumpled wooden crates marked “Live Animals” lay nearby. The monkeys, weighing 16 pounds each, are common in medical research because of their genetic similarity to humans.
In its first post, the sheriff’s department said the monkeys carried “herpes and other infectious diseases.” The department later said this came from the truck driver, who also warned officers that the animals were aggressive and needed protective equipment for safe handling.
“The driver of the truck told local law enforcement that the monkeys were dangerous and posed a threat to humans,” the department wrote. “We took the appropriate actions after being given that information from the person transporting the monkeys.”
Authorities have not disclosed the total number of monkeys on the truck, who owned them, or their destination. Some reportedly died in the crash, others escaped, and the rest were euthanized. Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries and an animal disposal company arrived to recover carcasses and assist with the remaining cages.
Tulane University’s National Primate Research Center — located just outside New Orleans — is one of seven federally funded primate facilities in the United States. The center routinely provides research animals to laboratories studying human diseases, vaccines, and neurological disorders. However, Tulane emphasized that these specific monkeys were not part of its program and that its experts were dispatched only to help contain the situation.
The incident has reignited debate about research animal transport and what protocols to follow during accidents. “This tragedy exposes serious flaws in the oversight and emergency handling of laboratory primates,” said Lisa Jones-Engel, a senior science adviser with PETA, in a statement to The Guardian. “False information about disease risk led to unnecessary killings and public panic.”
Animal welfare advocates also referenced a similar 2022 crash in Pennsylvania. A truck carrying 100 monkeys collided with a dump truck, and several monkeys escaped. That case brought more scrutiny to animal transport rules and raised biosecurity questions that remain today.
Local residents expressed shock at the sight of monkeys roaming freely along the rural highway. “It was something you’d never expect to see in Jasper County,” one witness told local station WDAM. “Crates everywhere, and these little animals just running through the grass.”
By Wednesday, the sheriff’s office had not given more details on the number of monkeys killed or how officials decided to destroy them. Law enforcement said they are continuing to work with Tulane and wildlife officials to locate any loose animals and secure the site.
The incident highlights how misinformation and panic can turn a traffic accident into a tragedy. Questions about the monkeys’ ownership, destination, and the circumstances surrounding the misunderstanding remain under investigation.
