Archive · 3 Nov 2025
US Woman Kills Virus-Carrying Monkey Fearing for Children's Safety
A truck carrying monkeys overturned in Mississippi, and some of them got loose.
One monkey ended up near a woman's house.
The woman had heard that the monkeys might carry diseases and could be dangerous.
She was very worried about her children's safety.
So, she got her gun and went outside.
She saw the monkey and shot it twice, and it died.
The police confirmed a homeowner found a monkey on their property.
The monkeys were from a research center, but the university said they didn't own them during the transport.
Officials are still trying to find any other escaped monkeys.
A woman in Mississippi shot and killed an escaped Rhesus monkey fearing for her children's safety.
The monkey was one of three that escaped after a truck carrying them overturned on a Mississippi roadway.
The woman, Jessica Bond Ferguson, stated she acted because residents were warned about diseases the monkeys carried.
The escaped monkeys were previously housed at Tulane University's research center but were not owned by the university during transport.
Authorities are continuing to search for the remaining escaped monkeys.
- Who
- Jessica Bond Ferguson, a US woman and mother of five
- What
- Shot and killed an escaped Rhesus monkey that she believed was carrying diseases
- When
- Early Sunday morning
- Where
- Near Heidelberg, Mississippi
- Why
- Fearing for the safety of her children due to warnings about diseases the monkeys carried
Tulane University's Statement
Truck Occupants' Warning
Monkey Health Status
Tulane University's Statement
Tulane stated that the monkeys had recently received checkups confirming they were pathogen-free.
Truck Occupants' Warning
Initial reports from the truck's occupants warned that the monkeys were dangerous and harboring various diseases.
Ownership of Monkeys
Tulane University's Statement
Tulane University stated the monkeys did not belong to them and were not being transported by the university.
Truck Occupants' Warning
The monkeys had been housed at Tulane University's National Biomedical Research Center.
- Monkey Species
- Rhesus monkey
- Number of Escaped Monkeys
- 3
- Monkey Location After Escape
- Near Heidelberg, Mississippi
- Monkey Owner/Origin
- Tulane University (previously housed, not owned during transport)
- Monkey Status
- 1 killed by resident, remaining missing