Laboratory Chimpanzees Scheduled for Release

The National Institutes of Health recently announced that it will transfer more than 100 government-owned chimpanzees to Chimp Haven, a federal sanctuary. Over the course of a year, the chimpanzees, who were previously used in laboratory research, will be moved to the facility that currently houses 106 other former medical research chimps. To accommodate the new residents, Chimp Haven is building additions to its current structure. NIH worked with several organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, to develop a feasible plan of transition for the chimpanzees to live out the rest of their lives in a safe environment. “This is a ray of light for captive chimpanzees,” says Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of HSUS.