A Mississippi woman shot and killed one of the monkeys that escaped after a truck transporting research animals overturned on a highway last week. The incident has reignited debates over the use of primates in medical research and the safety protocols surrounding their transport.
A mother’s fear turned into action
Jessica Bond Ferguson, a mother of five from Heidelberg, Mississippi, said she acted out of fear for her children’s safety early Sunday morning after spotting one of the monkeys in her yard.
Her 16-year-old son first noticed movement outside and alerted her, suspecting it might be one of the escaped animals. Ferguson said she immediately grabbed her firearm and phone before stepping outside.
“I did what any other mother would do to protect her children,” Ferguson told The Associated Press. “I shot at it, and it just stood there, and I shot again, and that’s when he fell.”
Authorities had previously warned residents that the monkeys could carry diseases, adding to her anxiety. “It’s kind of scary and dangerous that they are running around, and people have kids playing in their yards,” she added.
Authorities confirm the incident
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed that a homeowner had shot and killed one of the escaped monkeys. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks collected the animal from the scene.
Officials said they were still investigating how the monkeys escaped but reassured the public that the remaining animals were being tracked.
Background: how the monkeys escaped
The monkeys were among 21 rhesus macaques being transported by truck on Interstate 59 north of Heidelberg when the vehicle overturned on October 28. Thirteen monkeys were recovered at the crash site and reached their destination. However, eight escaped, five of whom were later killed during the search, and three remained on the loose before Sunday’s shooting.
The accident occurred about 100 miles from Jackson, Mississippi’s capital. Video footage from the scene showed wooden crates marked “live animals” scattered across the highway, with several monkeys seen wandering in the nearby grass.
Tulane distances itself from the transport
The rhesus monkeys were housed at the Tulane University National Primate Research Center in New Orleans, which supplies primates for scientific research. Tulane, however, stated that the monkeys were not owned or transported by the university itself.
In a statement, Tulane said the monkeys had recently undergone medical checkups confirming they were free of pathogens and not infectious, despite initial claims from truck occupants that they carried dangerous diseases.
Conflicting reports about health risks
Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson said that, while Tulane confirmed the monkeys were disease-free, their aggressive nature still posed a concern. “They needed to be neutralized,” he said, noting that rhesus macaques are known for unpredictable and sometimes hostile behavior.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks added that its conservation officers were assisting in the search, describing the species as strong and potentially aggressive.
Broader scrutiny of animal research practices
The Mississippi crash has renewed scrutiny of the animal research industry and the transport conditions of laboratory primates. Rhesus macaques, weighing about 16 pounds on average, are among the most commonly studied animals in medical research worldwide due to their physiological similarities to humans.
Last year, a similar incident in South Carolina saw 43 rhesus macaques escape from a breeding facility after an enclosure was not properly locked. That episode also prompted widespread criticism from animal welfare advocates.
Some residents and commentators online have expressed sympathy for Ferguson, calling her actions justified. Others, however, have used the event to highlight the ethical issues surrounding animal testing and the use of monkeys in laboratories.
The aftermath
As of this week, authorities have not reported sightings of the remaining escaped monkeys. The Mississippi Highway Patrol continues to investigate the cause of the truck crash.
The Associated Press later clarified that of the 21 monkeys originally on board, 13 reached their destination safely, while five were killed during recovery efforts, and three remained unaccounted for before Sunday’s incident.
