A rhesus macaque named Forrest, who spent several days on the run after escaping a dramatic truck crash in rural Mississippi earlier this year, has now found a permanent sanctuary at a New Jersey wildlife refuge.
Forrest was one of 21 monkeys being transported for biomedical research when their vehicle overturned on Interstate 59, just north of Heidelberg, on 28 October. The chaotic aftermath saw five of the primates killed, as law enforcement officers searched for the animals.
Body camera footage captured the disarray, showing monkeys fleeing their wooden crates, dashing across the grassy interstate median, and even running towards passing cars and semitrailers during the frantic search.
Forrest and two other monkeys eluded officers at the crash site and eventually escaped. The other two were later shot and killed by civilians, who said they were protecting their families and neighborhoods, while Forrest spent about a week on the run before being spotted by a resident who lives near the crash scene. He was captured by workers from one of the companies that had been transporting the truckload of monkeys, officials have said.
Residents had been told not to approach the Rhesus monkeys, saying they are known to be aggressive.
In search of a new home, Forrest was recently relocated to the nonprofit Popcorn Park Animal Refuge in Lacey Township, N.J. Officials there say he has steadily acclimated himself to his new surroundings and gradually built trust with his caretakers. His diet includes a commercial animal kibble, grapes and peanuts.
The animal refuge is seeking donations to help fund the monkey’s care.
