NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – A truck carrying lab monkeys from Tulane University’s research center was involved in a wreck Tuesday (Oct. 28) on Interstate 59 near mile marker 117 in Jasper County, Miss., authorities said.
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Officials said the monkeys weigh about 40 pounds each, are aggressive toward humans and require personal protective equipment to handle the animals. Three monkeys are believed to be on the loose, authorities said.
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Tulane University was notified and sent a team to help retrieve the animals. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office said three of six escaped primates had been euthanized but three monkeys remained on the loose.
“There are three monkeys still on the loose after the officials from Tulane were able to get inside the truck and get a correct count,” the sheriff’s office said. “Officials from Tulane arrived this evening.”
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.
Andrew Yawn of Tulane University
Tulane issued a statement contradicting a social media post by the sheriff’s office that claimed the monkeys were carrying infectious diseases.
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The response and investigation remain ongoing.
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