NEED TO KNOW
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Wildlife officials confirm the final escaped rhesus macaque from the Oct. 28 truck crash was captured
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Five monkeys were killed at the crash, two shot by civilians later, and the rest safely recovered after a frantic interstate chase
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The animals were being legally transported for research, and were confirmed to be disease-free by officials following the crash
After a weeklong search, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) announced the final rhesus macaque escaped from a truck crash has been found and captured.
According to a notice published by the MDWFP on Thursday, Oct. 6, the incident occurred on Oct. 28, when a truck transporting about 21 rhesus monkeys overturned on Interstate 59 near Heidelberg, Miss. The crash caused wooden crates to become dislodged and several monkeys to escape into the roadside median.
A resident in Jasper County spotted the animal and called authorities on the dedicated hotline, leading to the “successful recovery,” the agency shared in a social media post.
Jasper County Sheriff’s Department
One rhesus monkey remains on the loose after a truck carrying research animals wrecked on I-59 near mile marker 117
Immediately after the crash, law enforcement captured and euthanized five of the escaped primates. Two others were later shot by civilians who reported fears for their safety and the safety of their neighborhoods.
The MDWFP noted that five of the eight escaped monkeys were recovered at the scene and three had fled further.
The final monkey was spotted near a residence east of the crash site and then tranquilized by wildlife contractors working with the agency.
The monkeys had been en route to a licensed research facility and were lawfully transported by the biomedical company PreLabs, LLC, which later confirmed the animals were not carrying any known diseases.
Footage captured by deputies’ body-worn cameras at the crash site showed rhesus macaques darting across the median and even moving toward open lanes of traffic. The dramatic visuals underscored both the danger of the situation and the urgency of the response.
With this latest recovery, the MDWFP confirmed that all escaped monkeys from the incident have been accounted for. Officials thanked the public for their vigilance and cooperation throughout the recovery effort.
Read the original article on People
