Tragic Deaths of Five Alamogordo Chimps Revealed
A devastating new development has come to light regarding the ex-lab chimps at Alamogordo. Gene Grant, Chief Program and Policy Officer at Animal Protection New Mexico, who spoke with Species Unite about this heart-wrenching case back in June, shared the latest news from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
In its latest census report on federally cared-for chimpanzees, including those at the Alamogordo Primate Facility, the NIH revealed that five more chimps have tragically died this year while waiting for their rightful transfer to a sanctuary.
Mary, Kirsten, Julie, Rocky, and Cora are the latest victims of NIH’s failure and the greed of infamous animal testing company Charles River Laboratories.
These chimps deserved to live out their final years in peace at a sanctuary and we are heartbroken that they were denied this chance.
The report also revealed that the NIH is paying Charles River Laboratories, a company under criminal and civil investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for potential violations of monkey-importation laws, $1.29 million annually for the substandard care of these chimps.
Shockingly, the daily cost per chimp has risen from $129.16 in last year’s report to $229.90 this year without explanation. Meanwhile, Chimp Haven, a sanctuary offering vastly superior care, costs just $76.35 per chimp per day.
This is an egregious waste of taxpayer dollars, benefiting a corporation that clearly has no regard for the well-being of the animals under its care.
During her confirmation process, NIH Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli pledged to uphold the CHIMP Act, ensuring these chimps would receive the sanctuary and care they deserve. Yet, since then, the NIH has made no meaningful effort to fulfill this promise, leaving the chimps at Alamogordo to die while waiting for the protection the law guarantees them.
The incredible members of the Species Unite community have rallied powerfully for the Alamogordo chimps, sending over 12,000 letters to Dr. Bertagnolli, urging her to fulfill her promises. We need to keep the pressure on until the 23 surviving Alamogordo chimps finally see justice.
If you haven’t already please send a message to NIH Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli urging her to do the right thing and send the remaining Alamogordo chimpanzees to sanctuary before it is too late.