Escaped Monkeys Captured After Mississippi Truck Crash
Three of the 21 escaped research monkeys, which were part of a National Institutes of Health-funded program, were captured by authorities in Mississippi days after a tragic truck crash on an interstate near Heidelberg. The incident occurred when a vehicle carrying the monkeys from Tulane University in New Orleans flipped on the highway, leading to the escape of several primates.
A homeowner on Highway 503 near Heidelberg discovered one of the monkeys on their property and alerted the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, which then captured the animal. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the recovery in a Facebook post, stating that they had no further details at the moment. The rest of the monkeys, 13 of them, were still caged during the accident and are now in the possession of their owner, who is transporting them to their intended destination.
Tulane University stated that the monkeys had recently been examined and were free of disease before leaving the facility. According to the university, the movement of research animals is a routine procedure and is governed by strict confidentiality agreements to ensure the safety of both the animals and the involved parties’ proprietary information.
The incident has raised questions about the safety protocols and the handling of research animals during transportation. The Mississippi Highway Patrol, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and local law enforcement are investigating the details of the crash. Authorities also mentioned that the driver initially warned about the primates being dangerous and requiring protective gear to handle.
While the focus is on the incident involving the monkeys, the crash has also drawn attention to the broader issue of transportation safety, particularly for moving large animals over long distances. The White Coat Waste Project, a nonprofit organization that campaigns against government-funded animal testing, highlighted the controversy surrounding the National Institutes of Health-funded program that the monkeys were part of.
As the investigation into the crash continues, officials have not released the owner’s identity or the monkeys’ original destination, citing confidentiality agreements. The incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks and challenges associated with transporting research animals and the importance of stringent safety measures and regulations to prevent such events from occurring in the future.