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Legislation Would Guarantee Retirement for Chimpanzees After Years in Laboratories |
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WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Aug. 3 -/E-Wire/-- Yesterday's bipartisan introduction of legislation that would ensure a secure retirement for laboratory chimpanzees is a welcome development in efforts to improve the lot of chimpanzees in captivity in the United States.
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The measure was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Richard Burr (R-La), joined by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and David Vitter (R-La) and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La), who was joined by Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La).
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The Jane Goodall Institute is providing critical support for efforts to guarantee that once chimpanzees are retired from medical testing at the National Institutes of Health, they will never be returned to laboratories. A last-minute section of the Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance and Protection Act, or CHIMP Act, enacted in 2000, allows NIH research chimps retired under the law's provisions to be removed from sanctuary for further testing under certain circumstances..
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The CHIMP Act established a sanctuary system for chimpanzees retired from medical testing at the NIH. The law required public hearings and other measures before scientists could remove a chimpanzee from retirement. To date, no retired chimp has been removed from sanctuary. Still, the official sanctuary for NIH chimps has had trouble raising the funds required to match government funding, because private donors are reluctant to fund a sanctuary where there is any potential that chimpanzees will be returned to medical testing.
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Today's legislation is welcomed by sanctuary owners and their potential funders, as well as by animal protection groups and others concerned about the welfare of animals.
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"That these creatures who have already suffered so much should ever be returned to the lab after finally experiencing a more normal existence is untenable," said Bill Johnston, president of JGI.
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Chimp Haven in Keithville, La., the primary sanctuary designated to receive retired NIH chimpanzees, is particularly concerned about the return clause in current law. Dr. Linda Brent, president of the Chimp Haven Board of Directors, worked with the Institute and each congressional office involved to see that the legislation was introduced. Congressman McCrery, whose district includes Chimp Haven, introduced the original bill in the previous congress.
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"Many thanks to Dr. Brent and Mr. McCrery and to the members of the Senate and House who have joined the effort this year to protect these chimpanzees, to whom we owe so great a debt," said Dr. Jane Goodall, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and a world renowned expert on chimpanzees both in captivity and in the wild. "Most important, of course, is that we accelerate efforts to develop alternatives to the use of chimpanzees and other animals in research."
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About JGI -
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Founded in 1977, the Jane Goodall Institute continues Dr. Goodall's pioneering research into chimpanzee behavior – research that transformed scientific perceptions of the relationship between humans and animals. Today, the Institute is widely recognized for establishing innovative community-centered conservation and development programs (TACARE) in Africa and the Roots and Shoots education program, which has groups in more than 95 countries. For more information, visit: www.janegoodall.org. Contact Info:
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Nona Gandelman
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Telephone: 703-682-9220
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E-mail: ngandelman@janegoodall.org Website : the Jane Goodall Institute
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