According to media reports on October 29th， an accident occurred on Interstate 59 in Mississippi， USA， on October 28th. A truck carrying monkeys overturned， resulting in the escape of some of the animals.
Local law enforcement stated that all but one escaped monkey have been “shot and killed.” Police described the monkeys as “aggressive” but have not yet released the total number of monkeys on the truck or the specific number that were euthanized. The incident raises questions about the security protocols in place for transporting research animals.
The monkeys involved were identified as rhesus macaques， weighing approximately 16 pounds (about 7.7 kilograms) each. Rhesus macaques are one of the most widely used primate species in global medical research， making their movements and health status of particular interest to the scientific community.
These primates were reportedly being transported from the Tulane University National Primate Research Center in New Orleans， a facility that routinely supplies research animals to institutions. The identity of the transporter and the ultimate destination of the shipment remain unclear， which could shed light on potential logistical or regulatory issues.
Regarding the potential for disease transmission， local police initially cautioned that the monkeys might carry diseases， including herpes. However， Tulane University later clarified that these specific monkeys are “not contagious” and confirmed they are cooperating with law enforcement. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife， Fisheries， and Parks has also become involved in the incident response.
This incident is not an isolated event. In July of the previous year， 43 female rhesus macaques escaped from a research facility in South Carolina， with 18 of them never being recaptured. At that time， local residents were warned to exercise caution and were informed that monkeys used in U.S. laboratories can carry various pathogens， such as tuberculosis and cholera. The recurring nature of such escapes highlights potential vulnerabilities in the containment and transportation of research primates， prompting a review of existing safety measures.
