Last escaped monkey that survived truck crash now living at animal refuge

FORKED RIVER, N.J. (WMC/Gray News) - A monkey that survived a truck crash in Mississippi in October is now living comfortably at an animal refuge.

Popcorn Park Animal Refuge in Forked River, New Jersey, said it has taken in one of the surviving monkeys from the crash.

The rhesus macaque, now named Forrest, is one of 21 monkeys that was in the truck when it crashed on Interstate 59 on Oct. 27. The truck was on its way to a testing facility in Florida from Tulane University in New Orleans.

Many of the monkeys were shot and killed after they were deemed a danger to the public.

About three of the monkeys escaped, including Forrest. He was the last of the monkeys to be captured and spent several days on the loose.

The animal refuge said that Forrest couldn’t return to the research program because he spent so much time outside.

It said Forrest is now acclimating to his new life with neighboring monkeys and caretakers.