My husband and I sponsored today in honor of Kenneth Currie Davis, who died last week at the age of 80. Like our friends here at the sanctuary, Uncle Kenny was a true survivor. He conquered polio at age 6, and went on to live a life full of love and adventure. He loved to fly his planes and watch fast cars, so I think this pic of Missy racing across Young’s Hill is fitting. He is deeply missed by his wife Frances, sister Bee, brother Jerry (my husband’s dad), and his pup Casey. Also kids Becky, Jenny and Susan and their families, and many more. Rest in peace, Uncle Kenny!
We’re hiring!
I’m pleased to announce that we’re looking to add a (human!) member of the CSNW team with our newly created office manager position. Check the job description here and please help us spread the word by sharing this far and wide. Feel free to get in touch with me ([email protected]) with questions.
Congrats to Jessica and Lisa!
We sponsored today in honor of Jessica and Lisa, who are getting married today! Jessica has been a member of the CSNW Board of Directors since before the chimps arrived, and has been a friend to me, JB, and Diana since all of us were all students together many moons ago. We couldn’t be happier for Jessica and Lisa today, and wish them all the best in this next exciting phase of their life together.
News from the NIH Working Group on Chimpanzees
There was an important meeting today in DC, reporting the recommendations of a working group that has been looking very carefully at the federal funding of chimpanzees in research (you can read more about the working group here). Although the recommendations will still be reviewed by the NIH and undergo a public comment period prior to becoming “official,” it’s an exciting change on the horizon for our chimpanzee friends, including Jody’s son Levi.
The recommendations reflect the writing on the wall – that the US is heading in the same direction that the rest of the world has already gone – toward phasing out the use of chimpanzees in research. While not an outright ban, the recommendations call for a significant number of the chimpanzees owned and supported by the government to be permanently retired. Any research that would be allowed under the recommendations released today would have to occur in vastly different environments than those in which chimpanzees are currently kept. Here are a few main points:
- Most current biomedical use of chimpanzees should end. Some behavioral and genomic research might be able to continue (pending meeting other new requirements below).
- The chimpanzees not needed for federal research should be retired to appropriate sanctuaries through the Federal Sanctuary System, and the federal government has an obligation to pay for this retirement.
- The Working Group carefully and closely defined “ethologically appropriate” conditions, under which all federally owned and supported chimpanzees must be kept. These include physical and social requirements such as group makeup and enclosure size. No current laboratory environment meets these requirements.
- There is no need for a large reserve colony of chimpanzees to be maintained for “unknown unknowns” – meaning some unexpected virus or emergent disease that we don’t know about yet. They did discuss the need for a small (50 chimpanzees) reserve colony to be housed in one facility and meeting the ethologically appropriate requirements.
- An independent oversight committee should have final review and approval authority on any chimpanzee research proposals that make it through the NIH funding process. This committee would ensure that any projects being funded meet all of the criteria set forth.
You can read the full report here. Again, it’s not an outright ban. But no one expected that. It is overall a very good set of recommendations that sets very high standards for taking care of chimpanzees, and it signals an impending end to their use and exploitation. I have to admit that my eyes welled up a little while listening to the meeting, thinking about the potential to help so many more chimpanzees. So much has changed, for the better, since I first started taking care of chimpanzees (over 15 years ago!). I see a day when we’re done with all this stuff, and I never dreamed of that 15 years ago.
It’ll probably be April before the NIH makes a final decision on these recommendations, and we’ll be sure to share links for public comment so that you can lend your voice on behalf of the Cle Elum Seven, their friends and relatives, and chimpanzees across the country.
Happy day, Felicity!
Our friend Felicity is just a little bit smitten by the chimps, so I know she’ll be thrilled to find out that her friend Bern sponsored today in her honor. Thanks to Bern for such a thoughtful gift! And Felicity, I hope your day is filled with as much joy as Missy’s, below.
Merry Christmas, Megan!
Surprise, Megan! Your husband and sons sponsored today as a gift to you. They know how much you loved your time with chimps many moons ago and they knew this would be a special gift for you. So the chimps will celebrate in your honor today. Many of the CSNW staff remember Megan from our college days – so good to see your name here!
Here’s a pic of Jamie with one of her favorite things, and I know today will bring many more favorites!
It’s begining to look a lot like…
…chimp-mas?! I was delighted this morning to walk in and see the chimps’ tree all decorated. What could be more perfect than a tree with cowboy boot ornaments (for Jamie – thanks Karen!), troll dolls for Foxie, beads for Annie and Burrito, and a special ornament for each sanctuary resident? Of course the tree topper is a troll too!
Oh, I know what Foxie might think is better than the tree! A troll stocking!
And then there’s the shed packed FULL of goodies waiting to be wrapped for the big day!
Of course there’s more. Like the boatload of Amazon gift orders we’ve received and keep on coming. And the steady flow of donations from people joining the Team Chimp contest (Negra’s winning!) and just supporting our work in general.
Once again, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for all the people who make the lives of the Cle Elum Seven so special. That means you! Thank you thank you thank you.