Current:Home > ScamsRetired research chimps to be moved from New Mexico to a Louisiana sanctuary-InfoLens
Retired research chimps to be moved from New Mexico to a Louisiana sanctuary
View Date:2024-12-23 10:50:08
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The National Institutes of Health decided to transfer nearly two dozen retired research chimpanzees from a facility in New Mexico to a sanctuary in Louisiana.
NIH representatives confirmed in an email to the Santa Fe New Mexican that the transfer of the 23 chimps from the Alamogordo Primate Facility at Holloman Air Force Base in southern New Mexico will happen in the coming months.
Staffing issues, namely the planned retirement of the chimps’ caretakers, prompted the decision to move the chimps to Louisiana, the agency stated. Activists have pushed for years for the NIH to relocate the animals, which have not been used as test subjects since 2015.
More than 200 were previously moved to the federally supported sanctuary, but a number of chimps were deemed too frail and have been kept at the base under the care of contracted caregivers, according to the NIH.
The contractor informed the NIH that a significant number of staff were expected to retire by July 2025.
“Recruitment and training of new staff has proven difficult due to the specialized nature of the work and APF’s remote location,” the NIH statement said. “Given this uncertainty, NIH has determined that the best course of action for the welfare of all these chimpanzees is to relocate them to the federal sanctuary at Chimp Haven.”
Agency spokesperson Amanda Fine said relocating chimpanzees is a complex, time-consuming process and that Chimp Haven will be working with the NIH and the facility in Alamogordo to ensure the health and safety of each animal during the move.
The Humane Society of the United States is among the groups that have been sending letters to and petitioning the NIH over the years to relocate the last of the Alamogordo chimps.
The Humane Society of the United States, Animal Protection New Mexico, Humane Society Legislative Fund and three individual plaintiffs sued NIH in 2021. A federal judge issued a ruling the next year, finding that the NIH could not legally refuse sanctuary retirement for the chimpanzees because of their chronic health conditions.
“We believe that the extraordinary amount of pressure that has been put on NIH to move them to Chimp Haven -- including the engagement of thousands of our supporters who demanded that the chimps be moved and our winning lawsuit — played a major role in the decision to finally move them to sanctuary,” the group said.
The chimps — which range in age from 34 to 62 years old — could have years ahead of them to enjoy life at the sanctuary, advocates said. The sanctuary has cared for hundreds of chimps since the first two animals arrived there in 2005.
Chimp Haven President and CEO Rana Smith said in a statement issued Friday that the sanctuary is prepared to welcome the first arrivals from New Mexico in early 2025. With Chimp Haven close to capacity, Smith said it will have to build additional living spaces to accommodate the group.
The expansion is expected to cost at least $4 million, which will have to be raised from private supporters.
“There are many details to be determined in the weeks to come, but for now, we celebrate this wonderful news for the APF chimps,” Smith said. “They are on their way to a well-deserved retirement at sanctuary, and we cannot wait to welcome them home.”
veryGood! (717)
Related
- Ben Affleck and His Son Samuel, 12, Enjoy a Rare Night Out Together
- Trial to begin in lawsuit filed against accused attacker’s parents over Texas school shooting
- Is Australia catching the US in swimming? It's gold medals vs. total medals
- Duck Dynasty's Missy and Jase Robertson Ask for Prayers for Daughter Mia During 16th Surgery
- Monument erected in Tulsa for victims of 1921 Race Massacre
- 2024 Olympics: Judo Star Dislocates Shoulder While Celebrating Bronze Medal
- Wildfire doubles in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains as evacuations continue
- Florida county approves deal to build a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium
- Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says next year will be his last in office; mum on his plans afterward
- Olympic women's, men's triathlons get clearance after Seine water test
Ranking
- Detroit-area police win appeal over liability in death of woman in custody
- Olympics 2024: Suni Lee and Jordan Chiles React to Simone Biles Shading MyKayla Skinner
- Former ballerina in Florida is convicted of manslaughter in her estranged husband’s 2020 shooting
- Pennsylvania casinos ask court to force state to tax skill games found in stores equally to slots
- Richard Allen found guilty in the murders of two teens in Delphi, Indiana. What now?
- Judge tells UCLA it must protect Jewish students' equal access on campus
- Georgia election board rolls back some actions after a lawsuit claimed its meeting was illegal
- Louisiana cleaning up oil spill in Lafourche Parish
Recommendation
-
ONA Community Introduce
-
Nebraska teen accused of causing train derailment for 'most insane' YouTube video
-
Harris Grabs Green New Deal Network Endorsement That Eluded Biden
-
San Francisco police and street cleaners take aggressive approach to clearing homeless encampments
-
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Mixed Use
-
Navajo Nation plans to test limit of tribal law preventing transportation of uranium on its land
-
North Carolina governor says Harris ‘has a lot of great options’ for running mate
-
Judge tells UCLA it must protect Jewish students' equal access on campus