Incident Overview
A pastor shot and killed a rhesus macaque in Mississippi this week, one of three research monkeys that escaped following a truck accident.
George Barnett, 45, recounted to NBC News that his wife noticed one of the macaques perched in a tree near a highway exit ramp in Jasper County, where the crash took place on October 28.
He quickly grabbed his rifle and shot the macaque, explaining to NBC, “As soon as I saw it, the only thing I thought about was, ‘What if this thing attacks one of those people that I grew up with or my children?’”
Similar fears led Jessica Bond Ferguson from Heidelberg to kill another escaped macaque the day before. She stated to The Associated Press that her maternal instincts kicked in regarding potential diseases carried by the monkeys: “I did what any other mother would do to protect her children. I shot at it and it just stood there; I shot again, and he backed up and that’s when he fell.”
The monkeys were being transported from the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center at the time of the incident. Tulane University clarified afterward that these monkeys did not belong to them. Instead, PreLabs LLC, a biomedical research firm based in Oak Park, Illinois, has claimed ownership.
Both PreLabs and Tulane emphasized that contrary to initial claims by the truck driver transporting them, these rhesus macaques were not carriers of herpes, hepatitis, or COVID-19. “This is documented by the supplier’s veterinary health certificate as well as confirmed by third-party testing and diagnostic services,” PreLabs informed WDAM.
The escape occurred when a truck carrying 21 macaques overturned on U.S. Interstate 59 north of Heidelberg. Out of those onboard, 13 remained secured while five were captured post-crash; three managed to flee.
As of Tuesday, only one monkey remains unaccounted for according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.
PreLabs stated they are collaborating closely with authorities to ensure safe recovery of the animals while prioritizing public safety.
