Authorities in Mississippi destroyed several rhesus monkeys on Tuesday after a truck crash released the animals onto a highway and officers were misinformed that the primates carried dangerous diseases.
The wild incident happened in Jasper County, when a vehicle transporting the monkeys overturned, prompting a rapid and unusual emergency response.
According to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, the driver of the truck told deputies that the animals were aggressive and posed serious health threats, claiming they were infected with hepatitis C, herpes and Covid.
He also warned that personal protective gear would be required to handle them.
Acting on that information, local officers began searching for the escaped monkeys under the belief that they were a public safety hazard.
“The driver of the truck told local law enforcement that the monkeys were dangerous and posed a threat to humans,” the department said in a Facebook statement.
“We took the appropriate actions after being given that information from the person transporting the monkeys.”
It was later confirmed that the primates were being shipped from Tulane University, but the university said they weren’t infectious.
In a post on X, the school clarified that its National Biological Research Center does provide primates for research purposes but noted that the monkeys in this case were not infected.
“The primates in question belong to another entity, and they have not been exposed to any infectious agent,” the university said in a statement.
“The non-human primates were NOT being transported by Tulane, but we are actively collaborating with local authorities and are sending a team of animal care experts to assist.”
Dr. James Watson, Mississippi’s state veterinarian, verified that the animals had valid documentation for interstate transport.
“The animals had the proper certificate of veterinary inspection for legal transport across state lines,” he told the Associated Press in an email.
Initially, the sheriff’s department believed one monkey was still missing, but officials from Tulane later gained access to the truck and conducted a new count.
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They determined that three of the animals were still unaccounted for. Search teams in protective gear, including face shields and masks, combed through nearby fields and wooded areas along Interstate 59, the highway where the crash took place.
Rhesus monkeys, which are native to parts of mainland Asia including Afghanistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, are also found in established colonies in Puerto Rico.
The sheriff’s department issued public warnings urging residents not to approach any of the loose animals.
“Do not approach the monkeys if you see one. Call 911. They do pose potential health threats and are aggressive,” officials said in a statement.
Authorities have not detailed how many animals were killed, but local officials said that most of the 21 monkeys were destroyed following the crash.
Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson said the decision to neutralize the remaining animals was based on their perceived aggression and possible threat to human health.
An animal disposal company was called to collect the carcasses at the crash site, while Tulane officials were sent to retrieve the surviving monkeys that remained caged.
The unusual situation in Mississippi, came just days after a kayaker in Florida recorded video of wild monkeys leaping into the Silver River in Ocala’s Silver Springs State Park.
"It's raining monkeys!" Listen to the moments as a group of feral macaques cannonballed into the water at a state park in Florida. pic.twitter.com/TqbPXwKiVp
— USA TODAY Video (@usatodayvideo) October 22, 2025
That park is home to hundreds of rhesus macaques that were originally introduced to Florida in the 1930s as part of a jungle-themed river attraction.
Over time, the animals formed a thriving wild population that continues to inhabit the park and surrounding forests.
In a separate and equally bizarre incident, a pet monkey caused chaos inside a Spirit Halloween store in Plano, Texas, when it escaped from its owner and dashed through aisles filled with animatronic decorations.
According to witnesses, the animal, wearing a diaper, spent nearly half an hour swinging from rafters and scaling displays while startled shoppers looked on.
“This was animal kingdom live,” said Arlene Pinkston, who captured footage of the scene while shopping with her daughters.
“My daughter looked up and she said, ‘What in the world?’ and she’s like, ‘Is that a real monkey?’ and I looked up and said, ‘Well, it’s got a diaper on so I guess it is real,’” she told NBC Dallas Fort Worth, laughing.
Store employee Jimmy Harris said the commotion began when the monkey appeared frightened by one of the store’s moving Halloween props and bolted.
“It was entertaining,” Harris said. “A lot of people just stood and watched it for like 30 minutes, the whole time, they were like, ‘monkey,’ and we had kids trying to catch it.”
Plano police officers arrived soon after and saw the monkey still clinging to the rafters. The animal was eventually coaxed down when its owner offered it a cookie.
“Our team responded quickly and contacted local authorities, who arrived promptly on the scene. In a rather unexpected turn, the monkey was safely coaxed with a cookie,” said Spirit Halloween spokesperson Lisa Barr.
“The monkey was tagged with identification, and returned to its owner without incident.”
Barr added that staff and first responders handled the situation quickly and safely.
“We’re grateful to our staff and local responders for handling the situation swiftly and safely. While this is certainly not a typical day at Spirit Halloween, we’re glad it ended on a positive note,” she said.
