A rhesus monkey that escaped during a truck crash in rural Mississippi was found Sunday on private property in Heidelberg and is now in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Two of the 21 monkeys that fled the crash remain missing and searches are ongoing. Authorities initially raised disease concerns but later clarified the claims, and the Tulane National Primate Research Center said the animals "are not infectious." Residents are advised not to approach the animals and to report sightings to local officials.
Mississippi Homeowner Finds Missing Rhesus Monkey After Truck Crash; Search Continues for Two Others
A rhesus monkey that escaped during a truck crash in rural Mississippi was found Sunday on private property in Heidelberg and is now in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Two of the 21 monkeys that fled the crash remain missing and searches are ongoing. Authorities initially raised disease concerns but later clarified the claims, and the Tulane National Primate Research Center said the animals "are not infectious." Residents are advised not to approach the animals and to report sightings to local officials.
13:27, 03.11.2025Society
Mississippi homeowner finds missing rhesus monkey
Nov. 2 (UPI) — A rhesus monkey that escaped after a truck crash in rural Mississippi was found Sunday, law enforcement officials said, as searches continue for two other primates still at large.
A homeowner discovered the animal on private property in Heidelberg, about 87 miles southeast of Jackson, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department said in a brief Facebook statement. The monkey is now in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
The monkeys escaped Tuesday when a truck carrying 21 rhesus macaques crashed along a rural stretch of highway. Following the crash, deputies reported that three animals were unaccounted for; one has since been recovered and two remain missing.
Authorities initially warned the animals might pose a health risk and said they could carry diseases such as hepatitis C, herpes and COVID-19. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department later clarified that the truck driver had made those claims, and the Tulane National Primate Research Center — which supplies monkeys to research organizations — said the animals in question "are not infectious." Officials have urged residents to avoid contact with the animals and to report any sightings to local authorities.
Safety note: Do not approach or attempt to capture escaped primates. Contact local wildlife or law enforcement agencies if you spot one.