6 monkeys escape from overturned Mississippi truck

JASPER COUNTY, Miss. (WHLT) - A truck hauling 21 monkeys to a testing facility in Florida overturned in Mississippi on Tuesday.

According to the Jasper County Sheriff's Office, the accident occurred on Interstate 59 near the 117-mile marker just north of Heidelberg. They said six Rhesus monkeys from Tulane University escaped.

The sheriff's office said five out of the six monkeys that escaped were "destroyed."

"We have been in contact with an animal disposal company to help handle the situation," officials said.

Authorities are searching for one monkey that's still on the loose. Neighbors should not approach the monkey. If they see the monkey, they should call 911.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) also responded to the scene.

Tulane University was notified and was planning to send a team to pick up the surviving monkeys on Wednesday. They said the primates are not infectious.

"Non-human primates at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center are provided to other research organizations to advance scientific discovery," the university said in a statement. "We are actively collaborating with local authorities and will send a team of animal care experts to assist as needed."