Residents in a Mississippi town have been cautioned following reports of three monkeys breaking free and roaming the area. Initially believed to be carriers of infectious diseases such as hepatitis C, herpes, and Covid-19, the monkeys were later confirmed to be disease-free. The incident occurred after a truck carrying the primates overturned on a highway near Heidelberg. Despite the animals being declared non-infectious by officials from Tulane University, Sheriff Randy Johnson stated that due to their aggressive behavior, the monkeys needed to be dealt with. Some of the monkeys were unfortunately killed, but three managed to escape and are currently at large.
The monkeys were housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center, which supplies primates to research institutions. Uncertainty remains regarding the exact number of missing monkeys and their whereabouts. Video footage captured the monkeys moving through grassy areas near the highway. Authorities are actively searching for the escaped monkeys while the rest are being returned to a facility in Louisiana.
Rhesus monkeys, known for their extensive use in medical research, are now roaming freely in the vicinity of Heidelberg, prompting locals to avoid any contact and report sightings to law enforcement. The Mississippi highway patrol is conducting an investigation into the incident.
