The monkeys that escaped in Mississippi were rhesus macaques , a species of small Old World monkeys commonly used in biomedical research.

What kind of monkeys escaped?

  • The animals were identified as rhesus monkeys (rhesus macaques), a species frequently used in laboratory and biomedical research.
  • They were being transported as research primates in a truck when it overturned on Interstate 59 in Jasper County, Mississippi, causing several to escape.

Key details about the escape

  • A total of 21 rhesus monkeys were on the truck; several escaped after the crash, and authorities warned the public not to approach them because they can be aggressive.
  • Officials and the transport company later emphasized that the monkeys were not carrying known infectious diseases, despite early fears and misinformation in the immediate aftermath.

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