Monkey attacks keeper trying to take care of it at Mississippi zoo, officials say

A Mississippi zookeeper was injured in a monkey attack when providing service to the animal, officials said.

The attack took place Saturday, Aug. 19 at the Jackson Zoo, the Clarion Ledger reported.

“The zookeeper was injured while attempting to provide service for the animal,” said Melissa Faith Payne, Jackson’s director of communications, according to the Clarion Ledger.

The attack involved one monkey, WLBT reported. The city said it is waiting for an incident report from the zoo.

McClatchy News could not immediately reach Jackson Zoo for comment.

The monkey attack comes shortly after Jackson City Council President Aaron Banks spoke out in favor of shutting down the zoo, and other council members pushed back.

Banks said the zoo only makes $55,000 a year while receiving $1.8 million from the city, WAPT reported.

The zoo also faced issues in November 2022, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture cited it for understaffing issues. The agency said half of the zoo’s 10 animal keeper positions were “functionally vacant.”

According to the inspection report, upper level management, including the veterinary technician and the deputy director, had to perform basic animal husbandry tasks to the “detriment” of their regular duties.

“Staff who are exhausted or overworked may be injured or may make mistakes that can affect animal or public safety,” the report says.

Jackson city officials did not have information yet on what kind of injuries the zookeeper sustained in the attack.