Target: California National Primate Research Center
Goal: Improve living and safety conditions for University of California laboratory primates
Two rhesus monkeys at the California National Primate Research Center at the University of California in Davis recently died. An investigation into the matter also revealed that more than 50 rhesus monkeys escaped the facility in 2011. It is bad enough that these monkeys are subjected to cruel and unnecessary tests, but the university has failed to provide proper protection for them and the public and this must stop immediately.
In one of the cases a six-month-old monkey was found dead with a stuffed animal wrapped around its neck. It is still unclear as to exactly how the incident occurred. The other involved a seven-month-old that was trapped in a door mechanism. The animal rights group Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN) led the investigation, which led to the discovery of the escaped monkeys in 2011. This incident was never made public. Michael Budkie, director of SAEN, made a statement saying, “We will file complaints with the USDA as these are serious violations of the Animal Welfare Act. We believe UC Davis should pay a price for this. It’s a major issue because the primates we’re talking about could pose a public safety risk and the public should know when there has been a risk like the escape of 50 primates.”
According to the letter the university sent to the National Institute of Health, the monkeys escaped because they were able to manipulate the latches on their cages. Fortunately, none of them actually made it off the grounds, but many were tranquilized so they could be returned to their enclosure. Nearly 3,000 primates are currently being held at the research center and incidents are to be expected, but these two cases point to a much larger issue of improper care and safeguarding. For a monkey to die because it was asphyxiated by a toy or got caught in door means that facility monitoring is inadequate. The fact that 50 monkeys were able to escape means their enclosures are inadequate. Not only do these conditions present risks to the primates, they also present risks to the public.
Please sign the petition below and demand that the California National Primate Research Center improve the conditions within its facility.
Dear California National Primate Research Center,
There were recently incidents at your facility that resulted in the deaths of two young rhesus monkeys. Further investigation led to the discovery of another incident in 2011 in which 50 monkeys managed to manipulate the latches on their enclosures and escape. These conditions are simply unacceptable and not only present a threat to the primates you house, but to the general public as well.
I demand that you improve the conditions in your facility immediately by using proper enclosures to prevent escape and improved monitoring and protection so these primates cannot unwittingly bring harm upon themselves or each other.
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Ryan M Mclaughlin via Flickr