Video ‘Aggressive’ research monkeys escape after Mississippi truck crash
A tractor-trailer shipping rhesus monkeys from Tulane University overturned on Tuesday, leading to the escape of several, "aggressive" monkeys onto a Mississippi highway, according to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. (Credit: Scotty Ray Report)
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
One of the three monkeys that fled after a truck transporting 21 of the creatures from Tulane University in New Orleans turned over on a Mississippi roadway has been located, officials stated. The animal was apprehended a few days following the accident.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office revealed the retrieval Sunday through a Facebook announcement.
“A homeowner on Highway 503 close to Heidelberg discovered a monkey on their land this morning,” the announcement stated. “The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks responded, and the monkey is currently in their custody. We do not possess any additional information at this time.”
The monkeys were involved in a controversial initiative financed by the National Institutes of Health, according to the White Coat Waste Project, a nonprofit organization advocating against government-funded experimentation on animals.
One escaped monkey was captured in a photograph in the aftermath of the wreck. It is uncertain if it was one of the five that were “eliminated” by officials. (Photo courtesy of Scotty Ray Report)
The sheriff’s office conveyed that it “eliminated” five of the 40-pound monkeys following the incident. Representatives stated that the truck’s operator initially cautioned that the primates posed a hazard and necessitated protective equipment for handling.
Tulane University communicated to Fox News Digital that the monkeys had undergone recent examinations and were confirmed to be disease-free before their departure from the facility.
Monkeys were observed adjacent to crates in the aftermath of the crash. (Photo courtesy of Scotty Ray Report)
Authorities indicated that 13 of the monkeys remained confined within their cages during the accident to the north of Heidelberg and have since been returned to their proprietor, who is transporting them to their intended location.
Two Rhesus monkeys remain at large, and officials are alerting residents to the fact that the primates exhibit “aggressive” behavior. (Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, Mississippi)
Officials did not divulge the owner’s identity or the monkeys’ initial endpoint, mentioning confidentiality stipulations.
Tulane University stated that the relocation of research animals is typical but is subject to stringent confidentiality agreements designed to safeguard the animals’ well-being and the confidential information of the parties involved.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, along with local law enforcement are probing the matter.
Alexandra Koch of Fox News Digital contributed to this story.
Sourse: www.foxnews.com
