(NewsNation) — Authorities in Mississippi say the escaped monkeys that were “destroyed” by law enforcement after the truck carrying them overturned Tuesday were not infectious.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office said it was told by the driver of the truck “that the monkeys were dangerous and posed a threat to humans,” and that deputies “took the appropriate actions” in killing the escaped monkeys. The sheriff’s office also said the driver warned deputies that they had to wear PPE equipment to handle the monkeys.
NewsNation affiliate WHLT reports the truck was carrying 21 Rhesus monkeys from Tulane University when it overturned on Interstate 59 near Heidelberg, Mississippi. The truck was on its way to a testing facility in Florida. The crash resulted in some of the monkeys escaping. According to the sheriff’s office, “all but one of the escaped monkeys have been destroyed.”
Tulane University released a statement Tuesday confirming that the monkeys were not infectious, noting that they are provided by the Tulane National Primate Research Center to other research organizations to advance scientific discovery.
“The primates in question belong to another entity and are not infectious. We are actively collaborating with local authorities and will send a team of animal care experts to assist as needed,” the university wrote.
Residents in the area were advised not to approach any of the escaped monkeys and to call 911 if they saw them. Authorities say the university sent a team to pick up the surviving monkeys that remained in their cages.