The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced on
September 30, 2002 that it is awarding a contract to Chimp
Haven, Inc. to establish and operate a sanctuary system for
federally owned or supported chimpanzees who are no longer
needed for biomedical research. The creation of such a national
sanctuary system is mandated by the federal Chimpanzee Health
Improvement, Maintenance, and Protection (CHIMP) Act (P.L.
106-551) of 2000.
NIH's National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) will
provide approximately $19 million in total costs. In addition,
NCRR will also provide a $5 million grant, separate from the
contract funding, to help construct the sanctuary. According to
an NIH press release, Chimp Haven was awarded the grants
"through a competitive, technical review process conducted by a
group of outside experts in the fields of nonhuman primate
management, behavioral sciences, and veterinary medical
care."
Chimp Haven, a private, nonprofit organization located in
Shreveport, Louisiana specializes in the long-term care of
chimpanzees who are no longer used in research or
entertainment. The sanctuary site in Shreveport, expected to be
completed in spring 2004, will initially house about 75
chimpanzees in a free-ranging environment, but Chimp Haven has
authorization to expand up to 200 chimps as well as to expand
to additional sites. The Louisiana nonprofit also has
authorization to contract out retired chimps to other approved
sanctuaries.
Invasive medical research will be prohibited at the
sanctuary, which has agreed to comply with Animal Welfare Act
regulations. A survey conducted this year by an independent
polling firm for The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
indicated that 79% of Americans support the creation of
government-funded sanctuaries for chimpanzees who are
considered no longer suitable for research.
"The Humane Society of the United States is pleased to see
the federal government beginning to pay its debt of gratitude
to chimpanzees who have endured years of medical research,"
said Dr. Andrew Rowan, HSUS senior vice president for research,
education and international issues. "We were strong supporters
of the CHIMP Act, which mandates a national sanctuary system
for chimpanzees no longer used in research. Today, we are very
encouraged that this sanctuary system will become a reality and
that Chimp Haven was chosen to run that system. Chimp Haven is
an organization made up of professionals who are very committed
to doing what is best for the chimpanzees."
Sources: NIH News Release
The HSUS
