Project Chimps
Project Chimps is an animal sanctuary for chimpanzees formerly used in research. It will eventually house 200 chimpanzees on a 236-acre property in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Morganton, Georgia.[1]
History
In addition to their use as pets and entertainers, captive chimpanzees have served as subjects for scientific research. Anticipating that medical research on chimpanzees would be key to understanding diseases, such hepatitis, the United States government and private laboratories embarked on chimpanzee breeding programs in the 1980s.[2][3] A decade later, the experimental use of chimpanzees declined, resulting in a surplus population of captive chimpanzees.[3]
The significant cost of caring for the approximately 700 privately owned chimpanzees housed in U.S. research facilities required the development of alternatives to standard laboratory housing for chimpanzees no longer active in research.[3] Concurrent with the plight of research chimpanzees, hundreds of privately owned chimpanzees who proved unmanageable to keep as pets or performers were also in need of a professionally run facility—a sanctuary.
Project Chimps was founded in 2014 following the end of National Institutes of Health funding for biomedical research on chimps.[4] The sanctuary occupies land originally occupied by a gorilla sanctuary funded by software mogul C. E. Steuart Dewar and Jane, his wife at the time. Project Chimps bought the land for about $1.6 million; the Dewar Wildlife Trust donated the facilities.[5] The sanctuary is intended to house more than 200 animals including the retired research chimpanzees at the New Iberia Research Center in New Iberia, Louisiana.[6][7] It includes office buildings, a veterinary clinic, and a kitchen designed by Rachael Ray. Buildings include "villas" that house 10 to 15 chimps each and a larger "group building" that can house two groups of 10 to 15 chimps.[8]
Present day
The mission of Project Chimps is: "to provide lifelong exemplary care to chimpanzees retired from research".[9]
To fulfill its mission of for these endangered nonhuman primates, Project Chimps has established several public education programs including: Discovery Days and Chimpcation, [10] The sanctuary also hosts veterinary, behavioral, animal care and organizational development interns throughout the year.[11]
Ali Crumpacker was hired as the Executive Director in 2017. [12]
In 2019, Project Chimps published a 5-year Strategic Plan to expand the facility and accommodate the remaining chimps still living at the New Iberia Research Center. [13]
The chimpanzees receive 6-7 pounds of fresh produce every day along with daily enrichment activities and sometimes larger celebrations, such as "Chimpsgiving" feasts.[14] in 2020, Project Chimps established Project Harvest, a multi-acre farm area on the property to begin growing their own food for the chimps.
As of 2021, Project Chimps is home to 77 chimpanzees.
Controversies
In May 2020, twenty-two Project Chimps employees and volunteers sent a letter to the Board of Directors to voice concerns about animal welfare conditions at the sanctuary, including poor veterinary care, overcrowding, rushed chimpanzee introductions, a lack of sufficient enrichment and infrequent access to the outdoors. [15] When the Chairman dismissed their concerns,[16] two of the individuals who signed the letter posted the evidence of mistreatment on an independent web site, HelpTheChimps.org.
On June 1, 2020 Project Chimps filed lawsuits against these whistleblowers for publishing an endless stream of false and harmful statements about the care of its chimpanzees, for involvement in the illegal hacking of confidential files, for disseminating its confidential information without authorization, and creating multiple fake social media accounts and deceptive internet domains to propagate their lies and slander its staff.[17], but it settled the lawsuit two months later. [18]
According to animal rights activists who came to the defense of the whistleblowers, the lawsuit thrust the allegations of animal mistreatment at Project Chimps into the public spotlight. [19]
On July 9, 2020, National Geographic published an investigative story about the allegations.[20] Starting in July, 2020, grass roots animal rights groups began protesting at the homes of four HSUS board members, demanding that they improve the living conditions and veterinary care of the chimpanzees. [21]
On July 31, 2020, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) issued a public statement documenting its concerns about the welfare of the chimpanzees. [22]
On October 14, 2020, the legal advocacy group, Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP), issued a public statement [23] asserting that Project Chimps and The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which oversees it, were not fulfilling their commitment to provide a true sanctuary environment to the chimpanzees"
On November 30, 2020, an independent “Chimp Welfare Assessment” of the Project Chimps Sanctuary was made public. The assessment was conducted by primatologist Dr. Steve Ross and funded by the Arcus Foundation and was the first of its kind.[24] Dr. Ross noted that Project Chimps scored well in the areas of space and social structure and could grow in the areas of programs.[25] Dr. Ross's visit and the assessment program was further highlighted in Science on December 2, 2020. [26]
Following the public release of the assessment, HSUS acknowledged some claims and dismissed others.[27] Activists have demanded a change in executive leadership at Project Chimps.[28]
Throughout the controversy, Project Chimps received additional surprise inspections by the USDA, of which they hold and maintain their license, with no violations found.[29] Project Chimps has additionally maintained their accreditation with the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) and their membership with the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA).
References
- "Lab chimps get chance to "be who they really are" in new sanctuary". CBS News. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- O’Brien, Keith (2014-09-26). "America's Chimp Problem". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
- "Chimpanzees in Research". www.nap.edu. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
- Gorman, James (7 November 2017). "Lab Chimps Are Moving to Sanctuaries — Slowly". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- Cohen Marill, Michele (19 October 2016). "North Georgia welcomes a new type of retiree—chimpanzees". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- Milman, Oliver (9 September 2016). "Mass chimpanzee transfer begins in effort to protect endangered species". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- "Retired Chimps".
- Petronzio, Matt (10 September 2016). "Endangered chimps retire from medical research and get a fancy new home". Mashable. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- "About Project Chimps". Project Chimps. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- "Visit". Project Chimps. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- "Internships". Project Chimps. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- "Executive Leadership".
- "2019 Strategic Plan".
- "Chimpsgiving for nearly 80 chimps at sanctuary in north Georgia". FOX 5 Atlanta. 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- "Sanctuary for retired lab chimps embroiled in dispute over quality of its care".
- "Response" (PDF).
- "Verified complaint".
- Rhone, Nedra; Journal-Constitution, The Atlanta. "Dispute over chimp care highlights challenges of animal sanctuaries". ajc. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- "HSUS Protest".
- "Sanctuary for retired lab chimps embroiled in dispute over quality of its care".
- "Animal Rights Activists Protest Humane Society Board Member Sharon Lee Patrick over Animal Cruelty at Project Chimps".
- "News Release".
- "Nonhuman Rights Project Calling for Changes at Project Chimps By Nonhuman Rights on October 14, 2020 Share this story:". line feed character in
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at position 62 (help) - "Welfare Assessment".
- "Dr. Steve Ross' Project ChimpCARE Chimpanzee Welfare Assessment & Project Chimps' Response" (PDF).
- GrimmDec. 2, David; 2020; Pm, 2:30 (2020-12-02). "Chimpanzee sanctuaries are under fire. Can a new science-based tool improve ape welfare?". Science | AAAS. Retrieved 2021-02-02.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
- "Statement on Project Chimps".
- ""activists have vowed to continue protesting HSUS until the organization installs leaders at Project Chimps who have chimpanzee experience; who command the respect of their staff and peers in the primate sanctuary community; and who instinctively prioritize the welfare of the animals"".
- "APHIS Public Search Tool". aphis-efile.force.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.