Residents in a Mississippi town are on alert following the escape of three aggressive monkeys that were reportedly carrying infectious diseases. The monkeys fled after a truck transporting them overturned on a highway near Heidelberg. Despite initial concerns, officials confirmed that the monkeys were not infectious but still needed to be captured due to their aggressive behavior.
While some of the monkeys were unfortunately killed during the incident, three managed to escape and are currently at large. The animals were part of a research program at Tulane University and belonged to a third party. Authorities are working to locate and secure the missing monkeys while the rest have been safely transported back to a facility in Louisiana.
Rhesus monkeys, commonly used in medical research, are now roaming the countryside north of Jackson. The public is advised not to approach them and to contact law enforcement if spotted. The incident is under investigation by the Mississippi highway patrol to determine the cause of the crash and the circumstances surrounding the transport of the monkeys.
