Heidelberg, MS — One of the Rhesus monkeys that escaped last week after a truck overturned on a Mississippi highway has been shot and killed by a homeowner who said she feared for her children’s safety. The incident has reignited public concern over the transport of research animals and how escapes are handled.
Woman Says She Acted to Protect Her Children
Jessica Bond Ferguson, a 35-year-old professional chef and mother of five, said she was awakened early Sunday by her 16-year-old son, who reported seeing a monkey running through their yard near Heidelberg, Mississippi.
“I did what any other mother would do to protect her children,” Ferguson told The Associated Press. “I shot at it and it just stood there, and I shot again, and he backed up and that’s when he fell.”
Ferguson said she had been warned by neighbors and local authorities that the escaped monkeys “carried diseases.” She called police before stepping outside with her firearm, but feared that if she didn’t act quickly, the animal might attack children nearby.
“If it attacked somebody’s kid, and I could have stopped it, that would be a lot on me,” she said. “It’s kind of scary and dangerous that they are running around, and people have kids playing in their yards.”
Monkey Linked to Tulane Research Transport
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a homeowner had shot one of the monkeys on Sunday morning. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks later took possession of the animal.
The Rhesus monkeys were being transported by a private contractor working with the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, which supplies primates for medical studies.
According to The Associated Press, Tulane clarified that the monkeys did not belong to the university and were not under its direct supervision during transport.
A truck carrying 21 monkeys overturned last Tuesday on Interstate 59, about 100 miles from Jackson, Mississippi. Thirteen monkeys were recovered at the scene and reached their destination safely, five were killed during the search, and three remained on the loose before Sunday’s shooting.
Conflicting Reports About Health Risks
Initial warnings suggested the monkeys might be infected with diseases, but Tulane officials later confirmed the primates were pathogen-free following recent health screenings.
“The monkeys had recently received checkups confirming they were pathogen-free,” Tulane said in a statement Wednesday.
Despite this, Sheriff Randy Johnson stated that the animals still needed to be “neutralized” due to their aggressive nature. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks also described Rhesus macaques as “known to be aggressive” and confirmed that conservation officers were working with deputies to locate the remaining animals.
Ongoing Investigation and Broader Concerns
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash that led to the monkeys’ escape. The overturned truck left crates labeled “live animals” scattered along the roadside, with video footage showing monkeys crawling through grass near the wreckage.
The incident comes roughly one year after 43 Rhesus macaques escaped from a breeding facility in South Carolina when an employee failed to secure an enclosure. That incident also sparked debate about the safety and oversight of animal research transport.
Authorities have not said whether any of the escaped monkeys remain unaccounted for.
“It’s a relief to know my kids are safe,” Ferguson said. “But I wish this never happened at all.”
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