A transport truck carrying a group of monkeys overturned on Interstate 59 near Heidelberg, Mississippi, sending several of the animals fleeing into the surrounding woods. Authorities said the crash scattered debris and cages across the highway, forcing crews to close parts of the interstate while animal control teams searched for the escapees.
Sheriff’s officials described the monkeys as aggressive and warned residents to stay away, noting the animals were reportedly being transported for research and could carry diseases including COVID-19 and sexually transmitted infections. Local officers, biologists, and emergency personnel have since launched a coordinated effort to safely capture the remaining monkeys on the loose.