The King 5 coverage last night mentioned the chimpanzees who are still in laboratories. Chimpanzees whose lives, like the Cle Elum Seven, could also remarkably improve if H.R. 1326, the Great Ape Protection Act (GAPA), is passed.
Sometimes it seems the barriers to this actually happening are insurmountable – the opposition to the bill by some in the biomedical research community; the funds that would be needed to create space and quality care for the chimpanzees in sanctuaries; and the inherent politics of getting a bill passed that have nothing to do with those 600 chimpanzee lives (and the other 500 who are privately owned and would no longer be tested on).
But then I think about other countries that have passed similar legislation, the bipartisan support that the bill has within the house, and the tremendous determination of those working on the legislation.
And I think about those 1100 chimpanzees. Many of them have very similar experiences as the Cle Elum Seven. Like Negra, Annie and Jody, many were taken from their native home of Africa as infants and may have never experienced what it feels like to be comfortable and safe. Some, like Foxie and Missy, were likely born into captivity for the purpose of being biomedical test subjects and, like Foxie, may never be able to learn natural chimpanzee behaviors like nest-building. Others, like Jamie and Burrito, were former “pets” or “entertainers,” possibly raised as substitute human children, abused by their trainers, then sold into biomedical research.
Those mostly unknown 1100 chimpanzees deserve sanctuary life as much as the seven chimpanzees in our care. Their intelligence and individual personalities should be shared and appreciated. Whatever happens, they will always live in captivity, but they should have a second chance for a better life.
Look at Negra in the photos below – the first taken before her new life began, during her dark years of living in a basement with little mental stimulation, the second taken just days ago as she peacefully napped outside. And re-watch this video of Negra playing with Missy: https://chimpsnw.org/2009/11/negra-5/
Then check out the links below the photos about GAPA to learn how you can help create a better life for all of the Negras still in laboratories.
Learn more about the Great Ape Protection Act (H.R. 1326) and how you can help from these groups:
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Humane Society of the United States
Project R&R
Diana….what a great post! I’ve shared Jackie’s facebook post on my facebook as well. Isn’t technology great?! It’s a wonder to me how many people we can reach through email and social networks!! Negra and Missy are two of my favorites and I took GREAT pleasure in watching that older blog video (posted on my daughter, Sarah’s, birthday!) of Negra and Missy playing. Does she play like that much any more?
Diana,
Thank you for your post. I learn something every time you blog and am very grateful for your knowledge. Well said again and the pictures of Negra were astounding in their differences.
Thanks, Julie. There are more recent videos of Negra playing, like this one from last month: https://chimpsnw.org/2010/04/negra-pushing-missy-around/
I think Negra plays more frequently now. Usually it’s short bouts when everyone is excited about food right before meals, so we often don’t have the opportunity to record her.
Here’s another article on the progress European countries are making —
http://animals.change.org/blog/view/european_progress_for_research_animals
Just today I received an email from someone who bought a Negra bracelet from my etsy site (not so subtle advertising – the store name is mochamagic.etsy.com ) but I digress… She was at work and wearing the bracelet and caught the King5 spot and started showing her bracelet and spreading the story of Negra and the rest!
It does feel insurmountable sometimes but change happens in so many little steps and from so many places, we all just have to keep on keeping on! Our actions do make a difference!
The pictures of the Cle Elum 7 on the day of arrival and now are the most powerful way to show people the changes when chimpanzees in isolation with only monkey chow to eat day after day get a new life to socialize, good food, and sunshine. No one can dispute the improvement in the way they look, especially the brightness in their eyes. That’s what keeps me going when it seems insurmountable. I think of all the chimps with that hopeless, lost look and I try even harder so they will one day have eyes like the 7, bright and happy.
When I send a letter out about the Great Ape Protection Act, I always send a before and after picture of a chimpanzee that was rescued from a lab and is now in sanctuary. I agree with you Theresa, a before and after picture of chimpanzees is, indeed, very powerful. I also include the CSNW web address because they have documented the changes in the Cle Elum 7 so well.
There is a campaign called Project R&R (Release & Restitution) and they have brochures with details of the Great Ape Protection Act (GAPA) that I leave everywhere and put in envelopes when I write letters or pay bills to spread the word, as well as when writing to my Representatives and Senators. There are 146 GAPA co-sponsors so far. Sometimes I print my own flyers like one with pictures that explain the difference between smiling and a fear grimace and I stick them in greeting cards depicting “smiling” chimpanzees on the cover.