Rhesus Monkeys Incident Raises Concerns About Animal Research Practices

Mon Nov 03 2025 08:19:36 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A homeowner in Mississippi shot a monkey that escaped from a overturned truck carrying research primates, prompting discussions of safety and animal treatment in scientific research.

In Mississippi, a Rhesus monkey that escaped from a truck carrying research animals was shot by a local homeowner who feared for her children's safety. The incident has raised questions about the risks involved in animal research and the responsibilities of institutions that utilize primates for scientific purposes. The monkeys were being transported from Tulane University to a research facility when the vehicle overturned, leading to several escapes.

HEIDELBERG, Miss. — A Rhesus monkey that escaped from a truck after it overturned last week in Mississippi has been shot and killed by a local homeowner, raising unsettling questions about the treatment of research animals and community safety. Jessica Bond Ferguson, who acted out of fear for her children’s safety, reported that she was alerted by her son about the sighting of a monkey in their yard.

I did what any other mother would do to protect her children, Ferguson said, explaining her actions during a tense morning encounter with the primate. She discharged her firearm at the animal after receiving warnings about the potential diseases carried by escaped Rhesus monkeys.

The incident followed the overturning of a truck that was transporting several monkeys, part of a group housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. While Tulane clarified that the monkeys do not belong to them and were not part of any university transport, the event has sparked renewed scrutiny of how such animals are secured and the ethical considerations involved in their relocation for scientific research.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that the monkey was found on Ferguson's property and later taken by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. This incident highlights ongoing debates related to animal research and community safety, further complicating the already intricate discussions about the use of primates in biomedical studies.

As investigations unfold, many are calling for clearer guidelines and responsibilities for institutions involved in the use of animal subjects in research, especially in urban areas where risks to public safety may arise from unforeseen escapes.