A moment to celebrate
September 4, 2015 by J.B. -
In ten days, all invasive research on chimpanzees in the United States will cease. Let that sink in for a minute.
In response to a petition by a coalition of animal welfare groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is elevating the status of all chimpanzees to endangered, thereby granting them a greater level of protection. Beginning on September 14th, any activity that causes harm to chimpanzees will require a permit, and permits will only be issued for research that benefits wild chimpanzees or conservation efforts. According to the Humane Society of the United States, the effective deadline for obtaining a permit was today, due to public notice requirements. And as of today, no permits have been issued.
It’s hard to overstate how important this is. For nearly a hundred years, chimpanzees have suffered and died in our pursuit of scientific and medical advancements. Later this month, all invasive research on chimpanzees will, at least for a moment, come to an end. Whether any permits will be requested in the future is uncertain, but this much is clear: the era of widespread chimpanzee research in the United States is over. And that’s worth celebrating.
Now we need to get these chimpanzees into sanctuaries. We told you at the beginning of this year about our plans for the future of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, and we’re excited to report that, thanks to your generosity, we are ahead of schedule. We’re looking forward to sharing our vision for expanding the sanctuary as it develops and working with you to see it to fruition.
At CSNW, these seven chimpanzees have found a home where they are loved and respected and supported by people around the world. But inside every laboratory, there is a Missy longing to run free, an Annie aching for companionship, a Jody yearning for comfort, a Foxie wishing for someone to play with, a Burrito dreaming of a good meal, a Jamie desperate for a sense of control, and a Negra who wants nothing more than to bask in the sun. They all deserve a life in sanctuary. We, as a community, will make that happen.
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Yes, Let’s All Celebrate! This is a momentous occasion. To directly quote Peta : “It’s about time. The United States has been conducting experiments on chimpanzees for more than 90 years, and shamefully, we are the last country in the industrialized world to still do so.” The HSUS states that there are “745 or so chimpanzees currently in five U.S. laboratories and more in roadside zoos.”
As your posts points out, we now need to find ways to retire all chimpanzees into sanctuaries and we need to help sanctuaries grow to accommodate these deserving creatures who have spent decades lost and suffering. (Or why I feel a little conflicted while I celebrate the wonderful news!) Sadly being Endangered does not give all chimps passage into sanctuary. But I hope soon, this too shall change.
I am so proud of CSNW. You have come so far in such a short amount of time. I celebrate your future growth too! Thank you.
Here’s to the Chimpanzees who await their retirement in Sanctuaries!
Such good news for sure!
What can we do to help? Can you take in more chimps???? My cause is elephants but we are all connected now aren’t we?
Hi Thyra – Yes, we plan to expand in the near future so that we can take in another 10-15 chimps. The best thing you could do now is to support your favorite accredited chimpanzee sanctuaries so that we as a community can provide a home to every chimpanzee in need. Thank you!
What wonderful news!
Happy tears of celebration.
Yahoo!!! Celebrate!!! My heart soars…
At last. Such wonderful news and so much work yet to be done. I hope that all the of the retired chimpanzees will find hope love home and sanctuary as the Cle Elum Seven have.
What a wonderful day to celebrate!! It truly is a day that will go down in history. Now we need to work on the next historical day – the day all chimps will be in sanctuary. ???? oh what a party that will be!!!
In Africa I have been hugged by a chimp and he actually kissed and groomed me. (orphaned by the bush trade or rescued from the blackmarket) They deserve so much more respect then we humans have shown them. It is about time we came to our senses and realize these great apes are our closest relatives (also Bonobos).
It is about time!
This is huge! It has taken many, many years of dedicated effort by so many animal activists and organizations to bring us to this day, including the advocacy work of CSNW. This is a wonderful and well deserved victory. However, let’s not forget about chimps in entertainment, many of whom end up in roadside zoos and in non-accredited zoos in horrendous conditions. The private sale of chimpanzees for pets still continues. They are the next journey. In the meantime, it is time to celebrate this amazing victory!
What fantastic news!! One step at a time and this was a gigantic leap!!