Police in Mississippi are searching for a monkey that escaped when a truck carrying lab primates overturned on an interstate highway Tuesday afternoon.
The crash happened north of Heidelberg when the vehicle transporting rhesus monkeys from a Tulane University-affiliated research facility veered into a ditch.
Several cages broke open on impact, releasing the animals into the area.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department issued a warning about the 40-pound primates, saying they may be aggressive and could carry COVID-19, hepatitis C, and herpes.
Officials told residents to stay away from the animals and call 911 immediately if they spot one.
Most of the escaped monkeys have been captured and euthanized, but one is still missing as of Tuesday afternoon.
The sheriff’s office is working with Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries and an animal disposal company to track it down.
Tulane University pushed back against the health warnings, insisting the monkeys pose no risk to the public.
“The primates in question belong to another entity and are not infectious,” the university said in a statement, adding that they’re sending animal care specialists to help with the search.
Authorities emphasized that anyone who sees the monkey should not try to catch it themselves, even with protective equipment.
The search continued as of 2 p.m. Tuesday, with teams combing the area around the crash site.
