A Mississippi mother took action to protect her family after a monkey, one of several that escaped following a truck accident last week, appeared near her home. Jessica Bond Ferguson, a mother of five, shot and killed the monkey early Sunday morning near Heidelberg, Mississippi, after her son spotted it in their yard.
Bond Ferguson stated that she and her neighbors had been warned about potential diseases the monkeys could carry. Feeling threatened for the safety of her children, ages 4 to 16, she made the decision to use her firearm. “I did what any other mother would do to protect her children,” she told reporters.
Local authorities have confirmed the incident. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged that a homeowner reported finding one of the escaped monkeys on their property. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks has taken possession of the animal.
The monkeys were being transported from the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans. The truck carrying the animals overturned on Interstate 59, resulting in the escape and death of several monkeys.
Sheriff Randy Johnson previously stated that while Tulane officials claimed the monkeys were disease-free, they were still considered a threat due to their aggressive nature. This incident highlights the importance of protecting one’s family and property, and the difficult decisions individuals sometimes face in ensuring their safety.
