Mississippi Monkey Escape and Shootings

A truck transporting 21 Rhesus macaque monkeys, owned by PreLabs and previously housed at Tulane University's National Biomedical Research Center, overturned on Interstate 59 in United States — Mississippi on October 28. Several monkeys escaped, leading to a week-long search. Five monkeys were killed during the initial search, and three were initially missing. Two of the escaped monkeys were later shot and killed by civilians, including Jessica Bond Ferguson, who feared for her children's safety. Authorities, including the Jasper County Sheriff's Department and the United States — Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, warned the public not to approach the aggressive monkeys, clarifying that initial claims of disease were false. PreLabs is cooperating with authorities and reviewing safety procedures. The incident has drawn attention to the secretive nature of the animal research industry.