Overview
- A reported sighting near apartments in Jasper County produced no findings, and three rhesus macaques remain unaccounted for after the Oct. 28 wreck on I-59 near Heidelberg.
- Five of the 21 monkeys were killed during the response, according to the sheriff, while 13 that stayed caged are now with their owner and headed to the original destination, Tulane said.
- Tulane reported the animals had recent checkups confirming they were pathogen-free and said it neither owned nor transported them, as state wildlife officials urged the public to avoid contact with potentially aggressive macaques.
- Authorities have not identified the driver, transport company, owner, or destination, citing contractual limits, and state wildlife officers and the highway patrol continue search and investigative work.
- PETA and White Coat Waste Project demanded necropsies and veterinary records for the killed animals and intensified scrutiny of Tulane’s NIH-supported primate program, while HHS said ongoing payments reflect an existing grant under court injunction.