The story of the 200 Alamogordo Primate Facility chimpanzees is far from over.
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Top header photo: Negra Chimpanzee enjoys sanctuary today. Contact the National Institutes of Health to keep her daughter, Heidi, out of invasive research. [Photo by Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.] Above: Captive chimps in New Mexico are a legacy of the notorious Coulston Foundation, which NIH funded for years.
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In July, Animal Protection of New Mexico first brought you news that the
National Institutes of Health intended to close down the facility and ship all the chimpanzees (202 when Program Director Laura Bonar visited in May, 186 today) back into invasive research.
This November, it is more important than ever to tell our National Institutes of Health these chimps deserve a better solution: We cannot give back their health or the years spent as test subjects, but we can give them peace and dignity at the end of their lives by securing permanent retirement from invasive research. It’s time to change our legacy with chimpanzees.
Call, write or email Director Francis Collins today, he has the power to change course, save tax dollars and honor the will of the people:
Dr. Francis Collins, Director
National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
Francis.collins@nih.gov
301-496-2433
NEW MEXICO PAVES THE WAY FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR CHIMPS
You have already seen tremendous efforts for chimps from Governor Bill Richardson, Senator Tom Udall, Congressman Martin Heinrich, Attorney General Gary King, State Representative Nate Cote and many more in recent months.
We are pleased to share that
Congressman Ben Ray Luján has written to Director Collins, stating, “This proposal could bring significant harm to the New Mexico economy as well as to the aging APF chimpanzee population.” Thank you, Congressman Luján!
Congressman Harry Teague wrote to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, asking, “I respectfully request that you consider not taking any further action regarding the relocation of the chimpanzees until we can identify another client for the primate facility that will allow us to keep the facility’s employees on the job.” Thank you, Congressman Teague!
New Mexicans: If you have requested your elected officials get involved, please take a moment to say thank you for their efforts. We must keep this momentum going.
Senator Udall: (202) 224-6621
Congressman Heinrich: (202) 225-6316
Congressman Luján: (202) 225-6190
Congressman Teague: (202) 225-2365
Please ask Senator Jeff Bingaman to support keeping Alamogordo Primate Facility open as a sanctuary, saving chimps and tax dollars.
Senator Bingaman: (800) 443-8658
DR. JANE GOODALL ON 60 MINUTES
If you missed Dr. Jane’s
inspiring appearance on 60 Minutes, please take a moment to enjoy her interview and the amazing footage of chimps in Gombe.
Our Alamogordo chimps are facing a different set of challenges than the wild chimps in Africa, but it is no less important to remember Dr. Jane’s words of wisdom, “We are part of the animal kingdom, not separated from it.”
RetireTheChimps.org LAUNCHED
Animal Protection of New Mexico is fortunate to work with many local leaders and national organizations in our fight to save these chimps from a traumatic and painful life sentence.
We recently launched a
new website devoted to this campaign and will work to include the latest updates here. Check back on our progress in November and beyond!
ARE YOU A MEMBER?
Thank you for staying tuned to news through our eAlerts. If you are not yet a
member of Animal Protection of New Mexico, consider joining today. We operate a statewide animal cruelty hotline and work to protect all members of the animal kingdom, from hedgehogs, dogs and cats to horses, cougars and chimps. Are we living in a world where animals are treated justly? Not yet. Please support APNM’s critical work to build a more compassionate New Mexico!
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