Mania over escaped 'infected' monkeys in Mississippi — 1 still AWOL | Weird But True - video Dailymotion

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Transcript

00:00A truck carrying lab monkeys flipped over on the highway, and the scary scene has the internet running wild.

00:10Welcome to Weird But True, where we dive deeper into the strangest stories from the post.

00:15It was like something out of a disaster movie.

00:17It was the week leading up to Halloween, and on a highway in Mississippi,

00:21a truck transporting 21 rhesus monkeys overturned and crashed into a ditch.

00:26At first, the research animals were believed to be infected with COVID and multiple STDs, including Hepatitis C and Herpes.

00:34Tulane University clarified in a statement that the monkeys were, quote, not infectious.

00:40But that didn't stop some social media users from stoking people's biggest fears.

00:44And the superior beings are apes.

00:48One wrote, that's how zombie movies start.

00:51Meanwhile, others went into full-blown conspiracy theory territory, writing,

00:55Rage Virus released effectively under the cover of, quote, an accident.

01:00That guy needs to stick to writing sci-fi in his mom's basement.

01:04Adding to the chaos, the Jasper County Sheriff's Department said the monkeys, which can weigh up to 40 pounds, were aggressive.

01:11Tulane said 13 were recovered at the site and safely transported last week.

01:15Five died during the search, and three continued to roam free.

01:19The trio of wild animals escaped into Mississippi valleys, putting locals on high alert for nearly a week.

01:25Then, on Sunday, a worried mom of five came across one of the loose primates just 60 feet from her house.

01:32It was perched on the stoop of a home surrounded by overgrown shrubbery.

01:36So, she grabbed her gun and took matters into her own hands.

01:39The deadly act has caused backlash from animal rights activists.

01:43However, the mother of five, with kids aged between four and 16, defended her actions.

01:48The following day, it was reported a second fugitive monkey was fatally shot along a highway.

01:53So, if you're doing the math, yep, that means one more primate is still at large in the Magnolia State.

01:59Despite the intense situation, there is a bright side to the saga.

02:03This species of monkey has a long history of supporting scientific advancement.

02:06Welcome, gentlemen, to the United...

02:09Namely, a rhesus monkey named Albert II was the first monkey the U.S. sent into space back in 1948.

02:19Albert's moment of triumph. He's the world's first space cadet.

02:25Albert, we salute you.

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