For the past few months, I’ve been working on broadening our advocacy program, Primate Patrol, which currently focuses on the use of chimpanzees in entertainment. Our goal is to be a good resource for information about all chimpanzee issues, and to provide ways for you to take action and help. Stay tuned in the coming months for lots of great new stuff!
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Now that I’ve introduced our plans for expansion, I’ll start what will be a regular blog entry: Take Action Tuesday. Every week, I will post advocacy related news and ways you can help.
This week’s topic is about roadside zoos and pseudo-sanctuaries, often a dumping ground for ex-pet or ex-entertainment chimps. This video on Facebook shows two chimps, Rocky and Kelby, who were both used in entertainment. Kelby was in movies such as Babe, Pig in the City and Buddy. Rocky was once owned by former chimp trainer Sid Yost. As you can see in the video, the cages are small and dirty.
Rocky and Kelby have lived in a number of different facilities. These two are currently living at Suncoast Primate Sanctuary (AKA Chimp Farm) – a substandard roadside zoo that puts its residents on display.
Suncoast Primate Sanctuary is also home to at least one infant chimpanzee. Many roadside zoos breed animals and advertise the babies as attractions. Facilities that breed their animals are perpetuating the sad cycle of captivity. The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.) is another pseudo-sanctuary, home to the orangutan Suryia (who was used in a commercial). The Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary, run by the last remaining circus trainers (the Rosaire-Zoppes) is home to Ricky the chimpanzee (featured on a book cover). All of these facilities breed their exotic animals and continue to exploit them for entertainment purposes. Reputable sanctuaries do not intentionally breed—producing babies whose fate is a lifetime of confinement is simply wrong.
What can you do to help chimps in roadside zoos? Speak up for these exploited animals, and spread the word. If a friend sends you a “cute†picture of a baby chimpanzee holding a tiger cub, take a moment to educate them about the truth behind pseudo-sanctuaries that promote those types of photos (See below for a sample message to send to your friends). Do your research before donating to any sanctuary and support rescue organizations that are committed to providing quality lifetime care.
Sample response to “cute†pictures from a pseudo-sanctuary:
Sadly, this picture is not cute and cuddly as it may appear. Portraying these exotic animals as cute and cuddly attractions seriously misinforms people about the true nature of these beings and perpetuates the pet and entertainment industries. Simply put, chimpanzees are not meant for our world and should not be in captivity. Infant chimpanzees should be with their chimpanzee mothers — not tiger cubs, dogs, or humans. Unfortunately, the facilities where these pictures originate are breeding exotic animals, which leads to a lifetime of unwarranted imprisonment for those animals. No respectable sanctuary would intentionally breed, nor would they put their animals on display or exploit them for entertainment purposes.
Angela Derriso says
I actually live near where the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary is. My Mom, who’s loved chimps since childhood, found an ad in the local flyer and wanted to go. I actually looked it up and found out that not only was there an attack there on one of the volunteers, but that the owners where negligent in getting the victim help. I also discovered that they were a pseudo-sanctuary through online searches.
I informed my Mom about all this, and told her it was best we didn’t support that place. As much as I’d love to see chimps, I refuse to support a place like that.
There’s a place in Wachula, Florida that’s really decent. It’s the Center for Great Apes. They have Orangutans and Chimps there, many ex-entertainment.
It’s a cruel thing to produce babies for money at these places. They should be born in miles of forest, not on display.
On a side note, baby chimps are absolutely irresistible. Definitely brings out a lot of emotions. 🙂 I waste so much time watching videos of them at orphan sanctuaries in Africa. One day, I’d love to visit and maybe help them out.
Debbie says
Thank you Angela, I agree baby chimps are pretty cute! Which is why it’s challenging to explain to people that those pictures we see may feature cute baby chimps, but at what cost? I’m glad you were able to educate your mom and hope you continue to educate family and friends!
The Center for Great Apes is a wonderful sanctuary. They’ve rescued many chimps and orangutans from entertainment, including Bubbles, who was Michael Jackson’s chimp. They also now care for the original CareerBuilder chimps, and also rescued Angel who lived at the facility Sarah went undercover at. (http://www.primatepatrol.org/pdfs/undercover_at_a_training_facility.pdf)
Annie Norris says
Debbie, it breaks my heart to even read about all this, but I know it’s reality. It’s just so difficult for me to understand how humans can be so cruel in order to benefit themselves. I want to go out and rescue them all.
I think the Take Action Tuesday post is a great idea and I look forward to next Tuesday. Thank you for taking the time to educate us all and getting the word out.
Debbie says
Thanks, Annie! I am excited about the Take Action Tuesday posts as well, and am happy to hear you’re looking forward to next week 🙂
Amy M says
Debbie — Thanks so much for including TIGERS. I’ve had to educate SO many people about what it really is. They also have ONE elephant. Anyone who knows anything about elephants knows that being with other eles is vital to an elephant’s well-being.
Carissa says
This is a great post. I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but I really loved the movie Rise of the Planet of the Apes. I was so impressed with the director who used CGI chimpanzees instead of real chimps. I also thought they did a great job of showing how horrible it is to go capture chimpanzees from their home. I do wonder about your stance on breeding… do you include legitimate zoos? I agree it is horrible that any animal should be in captivity, but if I believe the animals in zoos are mostly rescued and they breed them to perpetuate the species. I would hate to think that any species of animal could die off due to human impedance (taking the land the animal needs to survive, poaching, etc.)
Sarah Baeckler says
Hi Carissa,
Thanks for your comment. I agree about the recent Planet of the Apes movie. It really showed everyone why apes aren’t needed in movies, and covered a lot of important issues as well! Great question about breeding in zoos. Although chimpanzees in AZA accredited zoos are undoubtedly in far better conditions than a roadside zoo, and you’re correct that chimpanzees in bad conditions are sometimes rescued by AZA zoos, the bottom line is that chimpanzees do not belong in captivity in any setting. So from the sanctuary perspective, no breeding means no breeding, regardless of the conditions. Even the best possible facility can’t meet a chimpanzee’s natural needs. They just don’t belong here. Conservation efforts that focus on protecting the species are best located in Africa where chimpanzees can be chimpanzees.
Carissa says
Thank you for your response and I definitely agree. The only problem I see is when a chimpanzee is born in captivity… I assume that if a chimp is born in captivity they don’t have the necessary skills to survive in the wild. It would also follow that they wouldn’t have the necessary skills to mother a baby (though Foxie seems to be a great mother to Dora and her troll dolls). Several months ago I asked (on the facebook page) the sanctuary manager at JGI South Africa why they don’t breed chimps. He answered that they want to save the space for rescue chimps. He also mentioned that most of the chimpanzees he cares for have not had the opportunity to learn the skills of a mother and the baby chimpanzee would likely end up hand-raised by the staff / caretakers. It makes sense. It just makes me sad that Foxie will never have the chance to raise a baby, where she likely would have in the wild.
Wanda Trotta says
So, is PETA after this particular roadside debacle? I know they do zero in on many as I am a member and am always sending e-mails with petitions.
Thanks
Wanda
Debbie says
I am not sure what PETA may be involved with regarding the three pseudo-sanctuaries I mentioned. But if you are a member I’m sure you’ll hear about any action they may take! 🙂
Amy says
I agree with your distinction between true sanctuaries and pseudos. As a matter of fact, Reading through your blog was one of the tools I used to get a feel for which category CSNW was in when I first heard of it. I was a little concerned when I first heard of you, because there were so many human toys and clothes in the images.
I have supported your work enthusiastically and with confidence after learning more about your work.
Debbie says
Hi Amy,
That’s good to be cautious and try and investigate a place before just assuming they’re a true sanctuary. The reason we give the chimpanzees human clothes and toys is because although it looks unnatural, it is indeed natural for a captive chimp. Burrito loves to put wood blocks in his mouth, Annie likes to use beaded necklaces for a water “sponge,” Jamie loves boots, Missy likes to wear socks, Jody loves to use a stuffed animal as a pillow, Negra makes elaborate nests with fleece blankets, and of course Foxie loves her dolls 🙂 So in captivity, we try and enrich them with all sorts of things, and for them human toys are pretty entertaining. We also give them things like nut forages, browse (such as pine branches or cattails), grass, and food puzzles that simulate a termite mound. Even with food, though, they definitely prefer human food over ants and termites! 🙂
Gregg Biggs says
Is there any action authorities can take against unlicensed sanctuaries using that word in their name? This group also uses the word “foundation” and makes pleas for donations. I question if they are an actual registered 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. Isn’t the woman in Festus, Missouri, who sold Travis now claiming she runs a sanctuary?
Debbie says
Yes, many pseudo-sanctuaries are indeed registered as nonprofits. Some of them even donate a portion of their proceeds to conservation efforts, but at what cost? There are other ways to raise awareness about conservation that don’t involve exploiting their residents.