Comments on: Chimpanzees to be moved for research

By: Senator Cantwell introduces GAPA companion bill «

Senator Cantwell introduces GAPA companion bill « — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 23:05:32 +0000

[...] more about this transfer of 202 chimpanzees from our July 16th blog post and view today’s newsletter with details of whose children are among the group: August [...]

By: Keep the pressure on – help 202 chimpanzees «

Keep the pressure on – help 202 chimpanzees « — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:56:57 +0000

[...] our July 16th blog post about this issue for more information and read New Mexico governor Bill Richardson’s press [...]

By: Update on Alamogordo chimpanzees «

Update on Alamogordo chimpanzees « — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:48:01 +0000

[...] }); Please see our July 16th post, Chimpanzees to be moved for research, for the background information on this [...]

By: Roslyn in Montreal

Roslyn in Montreal — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:27:23 +0000

I read today, on the Animal Protection of New Mexico Facebook page, that New Mexico State Governor Bill Richardson is supporting efforts to save the Alamogordo Chimpanzees!

Here’s a link to an official press release from his office dated July 22, 2010:

http://www.governor.state.nm.us/press.php?id=1651

Quote:
Governor Bill Richardson today announced his support to save the 202 chimpanzees at the Alamogordo Primate Facility on Holloman Air Force Base who may be moved out of state to be used for invasive research. The Governor sent a letter today to Francis S. Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health, expressing his concerns for the chimpanzees and the more than 40 jobs that will be lost if the chimps are moved to Texas.

“This is an urgent situation and I am asking the National Institutes of Health to permanently retire the 202 chimpanzees at the Alamogordo Primate Facility so that they may not be used for invasive research. New Mexico wants to save these chimpanzees who have already given so much of their lives to the American public as part of medical research studies,” said Governor Bill Richardson.

Governor Richardson in a letter to NIH Director Francis Collins urges the Institute to permanently retire all of the Alamogordo Primate Facility chimpanzees, return the 15 chimpanzees that have already been sent to Texas and convert the Facility into a sanctuary.

“The small community of Alamogordo stands to lose 42 jobs and millions of federal dollars associated with the care of these chimpanzees should they be moved to Texas,” said Governor Bill Richardson. “There is a compassionate and prudent alternative to the National Center for Research Resources’ plan and I feel strongly that we must save the chimpanzees.”

The chimps have been housed at the Alamogordo Primate Facility since 2001 and according to the agreement with Holloman; no research may be conducted on the chimpanzees while at the Facility. Charles River Laboratories, which operates the Alamogordo Primate Facility, is contracted with the National Institutes of Health until May 2011. The National Health Institute has announced plans to move all of the chimpanzees to Texas where they will be used for invasive medical research by early 2011. In recent weeks 15 of the 202 chimpanzees have been moved to the Southwest National Primate Research Center in Texas.
___________________________________________

Link to the Animal Protection of New Mexico Facebook page, if you want to follow the developments there, is:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Albuquerque-NM/Animal-Protection-of-New-Mexico/126438193209

By: Theresa

Theresa — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:03:37 +0000

What is so hard about people understanding the fruitlessness of research on chimps? The record proves that they do not react to human diseases in a way to find a cure or vaccine for many of the diseases that are tested. Why is the US the only country still doing research on chimps? I strongly object to my tax dollars being spent to abuse these wonderful creatures. This makes me sick on so many levels. Like Leslie, I would rather they be euthanized than be subjected to more torture. As for my congressmen, they are useless. Every time I send a letter I get a message about them not being on that particular “committee”. Needless to say I would like nothing more than for both of them to be voted out of office. I feel so terrible for these poor chimps. Flo and Guy especially have earned their retirement. Sometimes I am not only ashamed to be human but an American as well. I thought we were a civilized country.

By: Linda (Portland, OR)

Linda (Portland, OR) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:43:06 +0000

My heart broke into a million pieces as I read this posting. I will send an email to my state’s Senator. (He hears from me pretty regularly when there are chimps involved!).

On another note…………………..my very best to J.B. and Diana. We seem to be having some nice summer weather here in the Pacific Northwest right now so I’m sure the two of you will have a beautiful day!!

By: Diana

Diana — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:41:35 +0000

Candy – the chimps at APF have not been used in research for several years, that’s true. Similar to the Cle Elum Seven before they came to the sanctuary. They were basically being warehoused at Buckshire without being used as test subjects. This is part of the rationalization of the NIH for moving the APF, so that they can make more use of them than where they are now. It’s so unfortunate that they are owned by NIH and are at their mercy. So sad to think about Flo and Guy.

Actually the wedding day is next Saturday. Thanks for the well wishes!

By: leslie sodaro

leslie sodaro — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:47:15 +0000

oh my … i didn’t know there is to be a wedding … have a wonderful day and wonderful life.

By: Candy (Tyler, Texas)

Candy (Tyler, Texas) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:12:05 +0000

Diana, I read this story and my heart dropped, I couldn’t believe it. If I understood the articles, I’ve read, the Alamogordo Primate Facility (APF) chimps have been retired for a while, which is even worse for the chimps.

I mapped the distance between Holloman AFB and Save the Chimps, in New Mexico, and they’re only 17 miles apart, so close to a “permanent” retirement.

I looked up Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, on Google Earth, I love Google Earth. It’s a massive facility, unfortunately, with plenty of open space and room to grow.

According to releasechimps@neavs.org, the two oldest chimps are Flo, born 1957, and Guy, born 1959. Flo’s my age, I can’t even imagine what she’s endured in 53 years of research. I can’t even imagine how they’ll transport that many chiimpanzees, I don’t think their ride will be as nice as the Save the Chimps trailer.

I’m emailing a letter to some politicians, in my hometown, and San Antonio.

To Diana and J.B.–
May your wedding day, tomorrow, be beautiful and blessings to you both.

By: leslie sodaro

leslie sodaro — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:03:51 +0000

forgive me if i offend anyone, but it would be kinder (in my opinion) to euthanize them then see them back in the hell of research … the second paragraph of the article states that the funding to support them ends this year. that leaves very little time to find alternate solutions.