There’s an image from the news last month that I can’t get out of my mind. I’m betting many of you saw it too. It was a photograph, shared in this New York Times article, among many other publications, of wooden crates strewn across a highway, some of them upright, some of them on their sides. There are stickers on the crates that say “Live Animals” and “Do Not Tip”.
We know from the reporting that these crates held cynomolgus macaques, often referred to as “cynos” by caretakers in biomedical laboratories, and commonly called both crab-eating and long-tailed macaques. We know that there were around 100 monkeys on the truck that crashed in Pennsylvania and that they were being transported from John F. Kennedy airport to an undisclosed biomedical facility. The main headline was that several of the monkeys “escaped” when the truck crashed, and that the public was asked to stay away from the area and avoid contact with the monkeys.
We also know that these macaques were shipped from Mauritius to JFK. Mauritius is a small island country in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa, 500 miles east of Madagascar. From my brief background searching, I found that Mauritius is a beautiful island with an interesting political and economic history that has resulted in a diverse religious and ethnic population, with many of the human residents decedents of indentured servants used to farm sugar plantations. Like a lot of the world, it was under the control of different European nations over the years and is now independently governed.
Macaques are not native to the island. They were thought to have been brought there in the 1600s by sailors. Wild populations of these macaques now thrive on the island and are considered to be an invasive species. Starting a few decades ago, wild macaques were captured and captive-breeding programs began specifically to export their offspring to biomedical laboratories primarily in the United States and the U.K. Mauritius supplies as many as 10,000 cynomolgus macaques per year to U.S. laboratories.
More recently, and controversially, laboratories are being developed on the island to do research there rather than only relying on the export of the monkeys to labs in other countries. If you type “Mauritius monkeys” into any search engine, you will find a lot of information about the monkey trade there and the animal activism that has resulted from that trade.
It’s still difficult for me to cognitively comprehend the scale of biomedical research using non-human primates. It is estimated that there are around 75,000 monkeys used each year in biomedical research, including breeding programs and holding facilities, in the United States alone.
Even those of us who know a little bit about biomedical research on monkeys are rarely confronted with the reality of all of this primate research. The crates that were tossed from the transport truck during the accident and the monkeys who got out of their crates to briefly roam Pennsylvania, I imagine in a terrified mental state, were a tiny reminder of all the individual lives that are sacrificed for biomedical testing.
Of course the news cycle is quick, and I doubt many people who read the original headlines are still thinking about those monkeys or the tens of thousands of their kind they represent.
You might be wondering at this point what happened to the escapees. Some of the stories I saw just mentioned that they were “accounted for” within a few days, though the Associated Press expanded upon that and said that three were “euthanized” once they were found. Further reporting specified that the macaques were shot with firearms.
The airline that initially shipped the monkeys, Kenya Airways, has since publicly stated that they are ending their contract with the undisclosed company that had the monkeys shipped to the U.S. Perhaps the CEO of Kenya Airways, like me, can’t get that image of those crates in the highway out of his mind.
We at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest have plans for the future that include building and caring for monkeys, perhaps monkeys that are now part of biomedical research. It’s very unlikely that the sanctuary community will ever be large enough or have the funds to retire all monkeys from biomedical testing, and there are currently no restrictions on “euthanizing” non-chimpanzee primates for purely management or financial reasons (chimpanzees hold a unique place in the biomedical research field for this practice of not being killed when they are no longer useful).
I often think about the chimpanzees who lived their entire lives in laboratories. The ones who were part of the system long before sanctuaries existed, and the ones who are still part of the system because they have been deemed ineligible for retirement.
There’s no just reason for particular chimpanzees to have been given the opportunity of a different kind of life in a sanctuary while others were not, and the same will hold true for monkeys.
Here’s the tiny bit of hope, though:
We will keep working for those chimpanzees still in laboratories. We will continue to try to give the chimpanzees in our care a true sanctuary life. We will continue to share their beautiful faces and personalities with you, like these photos I took today of brother and sister Cy and Lucky:
And you will continue to remind others that their lives are important.
There are some monkeys that are being retired from biomedical testing to other sanctuaries now. One day we will join them in providing a home for monkeys. It won’t be all the monkeys who deserve retirement, but for those who come here, we will give them a true sanctuary life and we will share their beautiful faces and personalities with you. Because their lives are important too.
Some day in the future, I can’t even begin to imagine when, but some day, there will be a celebration for the last monkeys in biomedical research in the U.S. going to their sanctuary home.
Kim Harris says
It’s tragic that this still occurs. When the time comes to expand to include monkeys, we will all be supporting CSNW in every way we can.
Diana says
Thank you, Kim!
Judy says
Wow, that’s kind of all I can say… Except yes, I had not forgotten that image and the imaginings I’ve had about all that was behind it. Thank you for the background and information Diana. The CSNW community is and will remain behind CSNW, beside CSNW and excitedly looking forward to the time when more incredible beings have a sanctuary forever home at CSNW and beyond. Thank you to all of you, every day.
Diana says
Thank you for your support, Judy!
Elaine Reininger says
I often think about all the chimps that were dumped by the N.Y. Blood Bank on an island with no water and no food. No one talks about what happened to them. A few kind men were delivering puny amounts of food to them at one time…wondering if they still do and if any of the animals are still alive.
Carla René says
Hi, Elaine,
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/statement-project-chimps
According to the Jane Goodall Institute, the chimps were adopted by Project Chimps in Georgia and the HSUS is heavily involved in funding that. I’m just not privy to details like if they took every chimp from the island, etc. Perhaps Diana knows.
Cheers.
Diana says
Hi Elaine! The Humane Society of the United States / Humane Society International took over the care of the chimpanzees in Liberia that you mentioned. The sanctuary they run is called Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge Liberia. Per Carla’s response, though Project Chimps has ties to HSUS also, Project Chimps is not connected to the sanctuary in Liberia and no chimpanzees have been moved from there to other countries. Joseph, the main caregiver there, who stayed with the chimps through many changes, including HSUS’s involvement, died a couple of years ago. You can read more about Second Chance here – https://www.hsi.org/chimpanzee-refuge-liberia/
Edie Bruce says
Diana, I hold this hope in my heart, as well….there is so much cruelty in the world directed toward animals, and I wish I could find a way to stop all of it! Thank you for an excellent post!
Diana says
Thank you, Edie. Sometimes it feels like hope is all we have, but it’s also what makes action possible!
Debbie Schultz says
i had never forgotten about that accident. Such a tragic event… they must have been so afraid. Bless you and all you do for these precious animals
Gail says
I too was wondering where these monkeys came from and where they were going. Thank you for filling in the details. I was so nieve to think there were maybe “a few monkeys” still being used in research. Very sad to contemplate but I will continue to contribute to your efforts to provide refuge.
Mark B. says
Amen.
Caroline says
This makes me both angry and sad at the same time, why are we humans still torturing animals? I am so thankful for your team of Angels at Cle Elum and for saving the lives of the animals in your care; both primate and bovine…
Chris says
This was a provocative post that left me with several questions. what exactly deems a chimpanzee ineligible for retirement? Also, I thought the practice of using primates for medical research had been halted? Not true?? I can’t help but think the monkeys that were shot may have been the lucky ones.
Diana says
Hi Chris. You can read or listen to this NPR piece that sums up the reasons that the NIH has stated regarding why some chimpanzees are ineligible, and why many of us in the animal welfare field don’t agree with their assessment – https://www.npr.org/2022/01/27/1075856486/nih-is-largely-finished-moving-its-former-research-chimps-to-a-sanctuary
Invasive research on chimpanzees in the U.S. has halted, but right now none of the protections or ethical considerations given to chimpanzees apply to monkeys. In fact, some of the research that was being done on chimpanzees merely transferred to monkeys when chinpanzees were no longer being used.
Though there were many other factors, including significant public pressure, the final end to the use of chimpanzees in biomedical testing was the uplisting of chimpanzees in captivity to an official endangered status by the US Dept of Fish and Wildlife and the closing of a loophole that was allowing for their use. Most monkey species are not classified as engandered.
I did have the same thought about the monkeys who were shot. 🙁
Carla René says
Diana,
What, exactly, is it going to take for the laws in this country to finally make it illegal to even LOOK at a primate?? We have so many loopholes in laws that twits like Doc Antle of Myrtle Beach Safari capitalise on that, despite his recent indictments; he’s still prancing around, pretending to be a staunch conservationist while he and his kids post a constant barrage of videos and photos to Instagram like it’s their private feifdom. And MILLIONS of followers are blissfully unaware and quick to defend them anytime you even hint that they may not be true conservationists. (Sometimes I just want to shove a grapefruit in the face of his daughter who parades that young chimp around.)
So, girlie, what do we do next? How do we get REAL wheels in motion to begin legislation that this kind of farcical nonsense never be allowed to happen again? I know he has a lion and tiger mill, but do you know if he also uses a mill for the breeding of his chimpanzees? God knows he’s gettin’ ’em somewhere. It should be completely ILLEGAL in this country to own or breed a chimpanzee if your sanctuary is not accretited by the GFAS, or if you don’t own a true zoo.
I’m sick of seeing social media posts of folks who own monkeys, too. I’m sick of it ALL and want it to stop. So, srsly, what do we do next to make that happen?
Cheers.
Linda C says
Actually one of his “girlfriends”. Since the daughter went to OnlyFans and Vegas around the time of the indictment, haven’t seen much of her. They do breed their chimps, we just see only those they bring out for petting and shows. Since their friends at ZWF have only one chimp, Limbani, I wouldn’t be surprised if he came from MBS, too. It’s the only channel I’ll “hate watch”, in the hopes of finding willing ears whenever I correct someone who says they’re a sanctuary (always keeping comments as neutral as possible so they won’t get deleted, backing up people who ask where they live, where’s that orangutan, etc). I’ve found a few people that way who truly didn’t know. I have seen a bit more tension during their Sunday night dinners….but the son just went to Africa, likely on a shopping trip.
Laurie Mowat says
The positive comments made on those videos are mind boggling. They just don’t get it. When I first saw one of their suppers I was shocked! I have no words on the orangatan driving the golf cart. I think those people live in Dubai?
Linda C says
I believe she is in Dubai….that one is such a strange thing….I mean, she’s definitely enjoying herself….but the one where the whole family goes out, and the young ones are climbing all ober the hood….someone eventually will fall off and get hurt
Diana says
Carla – I finally forced myself to watch the newer Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story. If the stories of his abuse of teenage girls doesn’t stop him, I don’t know what will. I did like his former partner’s vision of Karma, but I’m not convinced it always works out that way, with the bad guys getting their due.
There are a couple of pieces of legislation that people can contact their reps to support now:
The FDA Modernization Act:
https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-paul-introduce-bipartisan-fda-modernization-act-to-end-animal-testing-mandates
The Captive Primate Safety Act:
https://awionline.org/legislation/captive-primate-safety-act
And, even bigger picture, follow Phoenix Zone’s Initiative and their work for animals, including a move to create a Belmont Report for Animals:
https://www.phoenixzonesinitiative.org/
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cambridge-quarterly-of-healthcare-ethics/article/belmont-report-for-animals/F4518E13F2FE89A7719C5082A7FB44F8
Diana says
Follower Roberta reminded me of this work too, which is definitely something to follow! https://contemporarysciences.org/
Carla René says
Hi, Chris,
Can’t answer all of your points, but I think what you’re referring to about primates in research is that in 2013 I think, President Obama finally signed legislation to make it officially illegal to use ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANY KIND for biomedical research.
https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director/statements/statement-presidents-signing-bill-enables-nih-retire-research-chimps
You can find more details here.
“Americans have benefitted greatly from chimpanzees’ service to biomedical research, but new scientific methods and technologies have rendered their use in research largely unnecessary. Consequently, it is now time to move most of the NIH-owned chimpanzees to the federal sanctuary system. Profound thanks are due to the bipartisan effort in both the House and Senate that made it possible for this legislation to be passed and sent to the White House. By signing into law Senate Bill 252 (S. 252), the President has provided us with the means to fund the care of all NIH-owned and supported chimpanzees — including those that are retired — over the next five years.
“Specifically, S. 252 contains amendments approved by both the Senate and House that removes the spending cap set forth in The Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance, and Protection (CHIMP) Act. With the funding roadblock removed, NIH can begin to move forward with our previously stated plans to transfer all but 50 of the NIH-owned research chimpanzees, over time, into the federal sanctuary system, which currently consists only of Chimp Haven in Keithville, LA. The remaining animals will be maintained, but not bred, for possible future research that is consistent with the principles set forth by the Institute of Medicine’s 2011 report on the use of chimpanzees in biomedical research, and as recommended by NIH’s Council of Councils.
“Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, National Institutes of Health”
HTH.
Francoise says
That is weak legislation, way too many loophooles. And five years are up. A ban must mean a ban. An end must mean an end. Period.
CeeCee says
Thanks Diana,
I’m one of those that can’t get that story out of my head.
Thank you for trying to find the positive, and for giving hope to those of us that just cry and think “what’s the point” when I hear something so awful as those poor terrified beings, after all the horrors that they must have gone through on that final terrible trip, to have it all end by getting shot dead.
Diana says
CeeCee – I often have those “what’s the point” moments. It really helps to have you and a others who are part of this community knowing how much you care.
Carol Sceniak says
my heart breaks for all these babies.How can a so called christian society do these awful things?Just look into those sweet faces and explain it too me.Damn their souls for hurting them.They should pay for these crimes:rage:
Laurie Mowat says
Thank you for the background information. That story and those photos are hard to comprehend. Humans have made an unfathomable impact on wildlife and in the worst way possible. The pain and suffering we have caused is hard to fathom. The fact that we have allowed species to come to the verge of extinction or to have lost them all together is unspeakable.
Sometimes I go back to the video that shows where Jamie and the others spent so many years. The way they looked than and how far they have come is amazing! To see Burrito laughing can give every one a little hope.
Thank youl
Diana says
Humans are by far the most invasive species on the planet!
Burrito laughing is everything.
Rosalie Allen says
Oh, that we would love and care for all those who need it-as the song says,
“Bless the beasts and the children,
For in this world they have no voice,
They have no choice.
Bless the beasts and the children,
For the world can never be,
The world they see.
Light their way
When the darkness surrounds them;
Give them love, let it shine all around them.
Bless the beasts and the children;
Give them shelter from a storm;
Keep them safe;
Keep them warm.”
Stevie Gillis says
dear Diana, once i started watching KoKo and Penny, the logical next step led me first to y’all and then found Flora and Fauna and eventually CSNW. Also i cannot leave out my beloved Orang’s. They are my family and i feel closer to these primates than most of my family, my parents are now deceased now, my brother is too preoccupied with the Sarasota symphony; he taught at Fla state for 21 years and decided to come back down south-even so i rarely see him. my question i guess is; what happened to the “the last 1,000”? i watched David Suzuki narrate Amy Fultz’s Chimp Haven, dont quote me bc i am reaching and researching everything i can about these wonderful critters. i love them. i cannot get enough of them and im so thankful the government finally pulled their heads out of thei…..the sand. Thank god for people like yall!
Diana says
Thank you, Stevie! The Last 1,000 is still tracking the last remaining chimpanzees in research. Since starting the project, hundreds of chimpanzees have moved from labs to sanctuaries. Here’s the website: https://last1000chimps.com/
Lisa Jones-Engel says
Thank you Diana for shedding light on the magnitude of the primate biomedical industry. l look forward to the day when macaques no longer form the simian backbone of biomedical research and sanctuaries like CSNW open their doors and have the resources to care for the macaques. Yes, the numbers of individuals are staggering– nearly 1.5 MILLION macaques have been removed from Asia and Mauritius since 1975, and hundreds of thousands more have been bred, born and died here in the US– but change is coming and soon some of the great great great grandchildren of the macaques who were plucked from Asia 40+ years ago may finally be freed from the laboratories. Those macaques can never be returned to Asia/Mauritius so we are going to have to find a way to make room for them.
Diana says
Thank you for commenting, Lisa! Huge thanks for all of your work and thought and activism to make changes for macaques in biomedical research.
Paulette says
Africa’s primate habitats are being ravaged by rare Earth mineral miners, so that we can hold these little devices in our hands. Do we really need a new one every year, every time a new version comes out?
Linda C says
Nope. I only get one when the old one is stolen or breaks down. I’ve only had 4 since 2003 or 2004. If my first smart phone had not been stolen, I’d probably still have it-such a good phone…
Laurie Mowat says
I have a ten dollar flip phone. If you want to text you have to press a number the right amount of times to get the letter you need. I never text.
Linda C says
I hated giving up my flip phone because it used to fit in the pocket of my bike pants and make for a light travel. But since I joined a book club 2 hours away, after a few years, I really needed a smartphone in order to meet with a group at various locations In Boston
Margaret Parkinson says
Thankyou Diana. i too think about those monkeys all the time. Images of them in boxes strewn over the road persist and some of them running “free”. It is great that CSNW plans to provide sanctuary for monkeys. We will be behind you whatever species you provide sanctuary for. Thank you.
Kathleen says
I am reading this post after the fact and I don’t know how I missed it. I am glad you brought this subject up and included the interesting links.
When the accident happened, I saw it on the evening news. I was almost shouting at the TV “Why are they even transporting these monkeys in the first place?!” and I hoped this would become a moment when people actually see the total lack of care, compassion, and concern laboratories have towards their test subjects. The next day I turned to PETA to follow up and take action.
Why is it no one showed concern for the individual monkeys? I can’t believe the escapees were shot. That’s unacceptable and inhumane. There are better ways to capture and euthanize a living creature if one believes this to be their only option. It is all deeply disturbing to me. We need better education on the subject of all animals in laboratories.
On a brighter note, I firmly stand behind any decision you deem important when it comes to saving an animal from a tragic existence by offering them dignity and security and a lifetime home within your sanctuary. Cy and Lucky stand with you too!
Marya says
I agree with all that everyone has said about the horrors of the exploitation and all the negative outcomes for these beings. I didn’t get through more than 2 comments before ending up vascillating between tears and rage. I actually am worried about OUR species in many ways, not only because of the willlingness to exploit/harm/murder other species for our own advantage but also because we don’t treat our fellow humans much better, either. What is wrong with our big brains that we can’t use them more consistently for good and not for destruction? I know this is a naive question that has complex answers, but I remain appalled about what we create that is destructive and horrific to other living beings, no matter what species. I can remember that poetry exists and music and art and philosophy and religion and other good things that partially can help to balance the darkness, but remembering the other side of the picture is always startling and deeply disturbing. I am helped by this incredible community of people (and chimps and bovines and BK) in knowing how much love and affection there is for the chimps and that there are pockets of sanity that exist that help to shine light in the darkness. Thank you!!