Monkey Shootings Following Truck Accident in Mississippi
A second monkey was shot after it escaped from an overturned truck in Mississippi, according to local authorities.
Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson reported that the monkey was killed on Monday by a citizen who spotted it crossing a highway. This incident took place about a mile from where a truck accident involving 21 rhesus macaques occurred in Heidelberg, Mississippi.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks indicated that one monkey remains unaccounted for. Following the accident on October 28, eight monkeys fled from the vehicle, and five of them were found at the site.
Earlier on Sunday, another monkey was shot by a concerned mother who was worried for her kids and local residents.
Mother’s Concern Leads to Shooting
Jessica Bond Ferguson shared with the Associated Press that she was in bed when her 16-year-old son alerted her about a monkey in their yard. As a protective measure, Ferguson, a father of five, grabbed a gun and shot the monkey from approximately 60 feet away.
“I did what any mother would do to keep their children safe,” Ferguson stated. “I shot him, and he just stood there, so I shot again, and that’s when he fell.” The mother expressed her worries about potential dangers to her children and other kids in the neighborhood.
“If it had attacked someone’s child, I could have prevented that, but I don’t know,” she reflected. “It’s pretty unsettling to have them running loose when kids are outside.” The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the presence of the monkey at the property, stating it was later taken into custody by wildlife officials.
Background on the Incident
The monkeys had escaped after a truck carrying them overturned on Interstate 59. This incident has led to a search effort spanning over a week. The monkeys originated from the Tulane National Primate Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Interestingly, Tulane clarified that the monkeys were not owned by the university, and its personnel were not involved in their transport.
Though there were initial concerns that the monkeys might be carrying diseases posing a risk to the public, university officials later confirmed the animals were pathogen-free.
