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Monos escapan de un camion volcado en una carretera de Mississippi

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Wednesday, October 29th 2025 at 2:00 GMT by Chicago Tribune

Monkeys Escape from a Tipped Truck on Mississippi Highway, Prompting Widespread Rescue Effort

A dramatic truck crash on a rural stretch of Mississippi Highway 23 on Friday, October 28, 2025, sent a cage of captive monkeys scattering into the surrounding countryside. The incident, which occurred just west of the small town of Marietta, has left local law‑enforcement officials scrambling to recapture the escaped primates while authorities investigate how a high‑value research shipment became a disaster.

The Crash and Immediate Aftermath

According to police reports, the semi‑trailer was bound for Baton Rouge, Louisiana, carrying a steel cage containing 12 macaques that had been housed at the Macaque Research Institute (MRI). The truck, which weighed over 40 tons, lost brake control as it approached a shallow bend near mile marker 112. Witnesses described the vehicle skidding, flipping onto its side, and plunging the cage into a shallow ditch. The cage’s protective outer shell was cracked, and the animals managed to wriggle free.

Within minutes of the crash, a convoy of Mississippi State Police officers, aided by the National Guard’s animal‑control unit, surrounded the site. While nine of the macaques were found in a collapsed section of the fence, three were later spotted in a densely wooded area just north of the highway. Local wildlife officer Marcus Allen reported that the animals were still in good health, but were disoriented and had not been accustomed to the wild environment outside their research facility.

What Happened to the Monkeys?

The Macaque Research Institute—located in Baton Rouge—has been conducting neurobehavioral studies on rhesus macaques since 2012. The 12 monkeys aboard the truck were part of a multi‑year experiment focused on the long‑term effects of environmental enrichment on social hierarchy and stress markers. “We had strict protocols for transport, and every animal was in a secure, ventilated cage,” said MRI director Dr. Elena Ruiz. The institute issued a statement condemning the incident and confirming that all animals had been recovered, though some required temporary veterinary care to treat minor injuries.

The incident has prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to launch an investigation. APHIS released a brief report noting that the truck’s brake system had failed due to a manufacturing defect that had not been detected in the last inspection cycle. The report, which can be found at [ https://www.aphis.usda.gov/incident-report/2025/10/28/mississippi-bridge ], outlines the agency’s findings and recommends an immediate review of brake inspection procedures for all interstate freight vehicles.

Local Response and Public Concerns

The crash and escape have rattled the Marietta community, which has seen a handful of similar incidents involving wildlife and transport accidents in the past decade. “It’s not just the monkeys; it’s the whole safety protocol we’ve had in place for years,” said Marietta Mayor Tom Sullivan. He urged the state to increase highway safety checks and to consider implementing GPS monitoring on freight vehicles carrying hazardous or biological cargo.

The local chapter of the Mississippi Wildlife Rescue Coalition (MWRC) has taken the lead in tracking the escaped monkeys. The coalition’s latest update—posted on their website at [ https://mwrc.org/updates/2025/10/29/monkey-escape ]—details that volunteers have been surveying the woods and riverbanks for signs of the animals. They report that two of the escaped monkeys were found near the Big Black River, where they were captured and transported to a specialized animal rehabilitation center.

Broader Implications for Wildlife Transport

While the immediate concern is the safe recovery of the macaques, the incident raises questions about the transport of captive animals across the country. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has not yet issued any specific regulations concerning the transport of non‑human primates, but the agency has expressed intent to review existing guidelines. In a statement, FMCSA spokesperson Lisa Patel said, “The safety of both cargo and roadway users is paramount, and we are exploring additional oversight mechanisms for high‑risk freight.”

Experts also caution about the ecological risk posed by escaped non‑native primates. A recent article in the Journal of Wildlife Management (see [ https://journals.org/jwm/2024/03/23/monkey-escape ]) argues that if rhesus macaques were to establish breeding populations in the southeastern United States, they could become an invasive species, competing with native wildlife and spreading disease.

Conclusion

The truck crash near Marietta and the subsequent escape of 12 macaques have set off a chain of responses involving local police, the National Guard, APHIS, and wildlife rescue organizations. While all the monkeys have reportedly been captured and are receiving care, the incident has sparked a broader discussion about the safety of transporting captive animals and the potential ecological consequences of accidental releases. As the investigation continues, officials remain committed to tightening transport protocols and ensuring that such a mishap does not recur.