Podcast Summary
Reunited Chimps Pancake and Huey at Chimp Haven: Two long-lost chimpanzees, Pancake and Huey, were reunited at Chimp Haven after over 20 years of separation, forming a strong bond in their new environment.
Chimp Haven, the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in the world, is home to 330 chimps, most of whom have been rescued from research institutions. Among these chimps are two special cases, Pancake and Huey, who were recently reunited after being separated for over 20 years. Amy Foltz, a co-founder of Chimp Haven, knew them back in the 1990s when the idea of a chimp sanctuary was still a dream. Pancake and Huey, both in their thirties, have formed a strong bond over the years and were reunited at Chimp Haven's welcoming center to acclimate to their new environment. The audio of their reunion, featuring Amy feeding them carrots and cucumbers, captures their heartwarming moment.
Retired research chimps reach sanctuary, focus on remaining 85: The retirement of 85 remaining research chimps is a complicated issue due to their age and current lab conditions, while tens of thousands of other research monkeys continue to be used in US labs.
The arrival of Huey and Pancake, two retired research chimps, at Chimp Haven marks a significant milestone in the process of retiring chimps from government-owned laboratories. With all currently eligible NIH chimps now at the sanctuary, attention is focused on the remaining 85 chimps still in research facilities. The retirement of these chimps is a complicated issue, especially since many are elderly. The NPR podcast "Shortwave" explores this topic, looking at which chimps have made it to the sanctuary, which have stayed behind, and what might happen next. It's important to note that while the use of chimps in biomedical research is decreasing, tens of thousands of research monkeys, such as rhesus macaques, continue to be used in research in the US.
Chimpanzee Research in the US is Phasing Out: The US has phased out chimpanzee research due to ethical concerns and scientific advancements, with most chimps now living in retirement communities like Chimp Haven
The use of chimpanzees in biomedical research in the United States has significantly decreased due to ethical considerations and scientific advancements. With only around 1300 chimps left in the country, many living in zoos or as former pets, research institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have phased out chimpanzee research since 2015. This shift came after an assessment in 2011 concluded that most chimpanzee research was not necessary, and the NIH agreed to retire the chimps they owned to sanctuaries like Chimp Haven. However, challenges arose as Chimp Haven didn't have enough space to accommodate all the chimps, leading to expansion efforts. Additionally, many of the NIH-owned chimps are elderly and medically frail, making Chimp Haven more of a retirement community for these primates. These chimps can live nearly as long as humans and suffer from various diseases, making their care and well-being a priority.
Challenges in relocating chronically ill chimps from research facilities to sanctuaries: Chronically ill chimps in research facilities, unable to handle relocation stress, face potential lifelong confinement due to health issues. Decisions to move or keep them depend on their well-being, social structures, and the benefits of sanctuary life.
The well-being of chronically ill chimpanzees in research facilities, who may not be able to handle the stress of relocation to sanctuaries, is a concern. James Anderson, an NIH official managing chimp retirement, explained that the transfer process can be dangerous due to physical stress, anesthesia, and social readjustment, which can last for months. Some older chimps with health issues are deemed unfit for relocation, potentially leading to lifelong confinement in research facilities. These facilities, though providing necessary care, offer less naturalistic environments and smaller social groups compared to sanctuaries like Chimp Haven. While chimps in the wild can live in large groups of over 100, the importance of social structures to chimpanzees is significant. Anderson acknowledged that strong bonds between long-term research facility residents, like Huey and Pancake, can complicate the relocation process. Ultimately, the decision to move or keep these chimps in their familiar research homes is a complex one, balancing their well-being and potential for social isolation with the benefits of sanctuary life.
Debate over relocating frail chimps from labs to sanctuary: Nine elderly chimps can't be moved to sanctuary due to health risks, but some argue they could thrive and save costs at Chimp Haven.
There are nine elderly and frail chimpanzees in laboratories, who cannot be moved to Chimp Haven due to their social bonds with their companions. The fear is that the frail chimps might experience health complications during the relocation process. However, some animal welfare groups argue that these chimps could potentially improve in health and welfare at Chimp Haven, where they can receive specialized care. Moreover, supporting a chimp at Chimp Haven is significantly less expensive for the NIH, as Chimp Haven is required to raise some of its own funding, while the cost of supporting a chimp at some research facilities is much higher. Despite these arguments, some people are skeptical about the number of chimps deemed too sick to be moved, and animal welfare groups have even sued the NIH over the issue. Ultimately, the debate highlights the complexities and challenges of providing for the welfare and care of chimpanzees in both laboratory and sanctuary settings.
Transfer of NIH-owned chimps to Chimp Haven completed: Chimp Haven is taking in 11 more chimps from closed facilities, marking a shift in public sentiment towards primate research welfare, but implications for future research are debated.
The retirement and relocation of chimpanzees from research facilities is an ongoing process. The recent arrival of Huey and Pancake at Chimp Haven marks the end of the transfer of NIH-owned chimps, but there are still other chimps in need of sanctuary. These chimps were previously housed at facilities like the Wildlife Waystation in Los Angeles, which closed due to funding issues. Chimp Haven aims to take in 11 of these chimps in the next year. The conversation around the use of primates in research has been changing as a result of the public's increased awareness and concern for their welfare. However, the implications of this shift for research on other primates is a complex and debated topic.
NIH Phasing Out Use of Chimpanzees in Research: The NIH is phasing out the use of chimpanzees in biomedical research due to decreased scientific need, but concerns remain for other primates like rhesus macaques.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is in the process of phasing out the use of chimpanzees in biomedical research, following a report indicating that the scientific need for such research has significantly decreased. This decision comes after a long-standing debate between animal welfare advocates and researchers over the ethical use of these primates in experiments. The process has taken over a decade, and while the number of chimpanzees in research facilities has decreased, there are still concerns about the welfare of other primates, such as rhesus macaque monkeys, which are more commonly used in research. It's important to note that this is a complex issue with many stakeholders involved, and the future of biomedical research with chimpanzees remains uncertain. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story. This summary was produced by Chloe Weiner, edited by Giselle Grayson, fact-checked by Katherine Seifer, and engineered by Stu Rushfield. I'm Lauren Sommer, and you've been listening to Shortwave, the daily science podcast from NPR.
