Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest is part of a coalition of organizations working to help 66 chimpanzees who had been left to starve on a small group of islands in Liberia. Many of them were used for decades in biomedical testing by the New York Blood Center (NYBC), who suddenly pulled their financial support for their care this spring.
Some of the chimpanzees were captured from the wild and many were used for hepatitis testing just like the Cle Elum Seven went through. The NYBC financially benefited from the research they conducted using these chimps. After determining that the chimpanzees would no longer be used in research, they released them onto islands near the laboratory where they rely on a water supply maintained by humans and require food to be brought to them.
Our role is to help spread the word about this issue in order to ensure that the NYBC restores funding. Their actions have been unconscionable, and they have not communicated a plan to save these chimpanzees who are dependent upon humans for their survival. One of the few public statements they have made, via PR representative Victoria O’Neill in this New York Times article is, “We never had any obligation for the care of the chimps, contractual or otherwise.”
In addition to the hardheartedness of this statement, it contradicts previously made public statements by NYBC representatives that acknowledged their responsibility to these chimpanzees and their commitment to their lifetime care.
We, along with coalitions members headed by the Humane Society of the United States, are urging the NYBC to reinstate funding immediately and discuss a long-term solution with animal protection groups and chimpanzee experts.
The New York Blood Center is a nonprofit organization, however they are not hurting for funding. Their CEO makes $1.2 million per year, and they have $450 million in assets with a total income of $407 million last year alone.
There are three ways that you can help TODAY:
1. Sign this petition asking the NYBC to reinstate funding.
2. Donate toward the immediate care of the chimpanzees. These emergency funds will be distributed for food, water, and other supplies as well as to those on the ground working to ensure that these chimpanzees receive the care they deserve.
3. Spread the word far and wide! Social media is a powerful tool – please share this information with all of your networks.
What a terrible injustice toward these chimpanzees who have given so much for mankind.
What a disgrace to use these chimps and then abandon them! Those responsible should be ashamed! We must continue to speak up for our fellow beings that have no voice.
I have been following this story since it broke and I have been so impressed with the outpouring of generosity from the general public. Please sign and share the petition with everyone, NYBC needs to hear us loud and clear.
AAVS posted this : “Although the chimps live on six mangrove islands where they can move about freely, they are completely dependent on humans for their care, especially for food and fresh water. In fact, until recently, when the fresh water system was fixed, caretakers had no other recourse but to give chimps cups of water to drink every other day. NYBC’s failure to provide for the lifetime care of these animals is unacceptable and ethically indefensible.”
As I receive updates on the 66 abandoned chimpanzees, I can’t help but think of the Cle Elum Seven and their rich, healthy diet — with supplements and meds included, and all the personal love and care they receive in sanctuary. I can not understand or imagine the abandoned Liberian chimps being fed every other day and living with no fresh water source! After all they have been put through, exploited for decades by NYBC for medical testing. It is most certainly ethically indefensible. Thankfully, it is the longtime Liberian volunteer caretakers who continue to care for these poor chimpanzees. This is truly inspirational but it is not a sustainable solution for the chimpanzees or their caretakers. They need out help.
Thank you CSNW, for being there to help chimpanzees in need. I hope some day soon these 66 chimps experience the simple joy of a night bag.