Second Escaped Monkey Fatally Shot in Mississippi; One Still Missing After Truck Crash

A second escaped monkey has been shot and killed in Mississippi, while authorities continue to search for a third monkey still missing after a truck carrying 21 rhesus macaques overturned on Interstate 59 near Heidelberg on October 28.

Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson reported that a civilian shot the monkey on Monday evening after seeing it cross the highway about a mile from the crash site. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks confirmed that one monkey remains unaccounted for and advised the public not to approach the animals, noting their known aggressive behavior.

Earlier, a resident near Heidelberg, Jessica Bond Ferguson, shot and killed another escaped monkey, expressing concern for her children's safety. She stated that residents had been warned about potential disease risks from the monkeys.

The truck, operated by PreLabs, LLC, was transporting the monkeys to a licensed research facility. PreLabs confirmed that the animals were not infected with COVID-19, hepatitis, or herpes, as documented by veterinary health certificates and third-party testing.

Tulane University, which had previously housed the monkeys, stated that the primates were not infectious and had received recent checkups confirming they were pathogen-free.

Authorities continue to search for the remaining missing monkey and have urged the public to report any sightings while maintaining a safe distance.