By Lisa Myers and Diane Beasley
Rock Center
Rosie and Ken are 30-year-old chimpanzees who've never known a day of freedom. They were born in research labs and have spent almost their entire lives being experimented on by scientists in search of cures for human diseases.
These two chimpanzees have been infected with viruses, darted, and sedated more than 100 times, and put through dozens of sometimes painful procedures. For years, Rosie repeatedly was given a drug that caused her seizures.
Today, these aging chimps are living in large enclosures called primadomes at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio, available to be used for still more experiments. When Rosie and Ken and a dozen other chimps were shipped to the lab, in 2010, after a 10-year hiatus from invasive testing, it provoked a public outcry.
Chimpanzee 'Ken' in his enclosure.
We met Rosie and Ken not long ago, when, after months of negotiation, Texas Biomed gave NBC News unprecedented access to the highly secretive world of primate research.
Dr. Robert Lanford, who has experimented on chimps for 27 years, said he wants the public to see what it's like at his research lab today. "The American people has had the wrong opinion that these animals are in little bitty cages in a dark room with no windows," he said. "I want them to see who we are and how we take care of the animals and why we're doing it."
Dr. John VandeBerg, director of the primate research center, says chimpanzees here are treated "with the utmost of reverence," and have a "high quality of life."
But that quality of life is a matter of intense debate and part of the emotional argument over whether experimenting on chimps is morally and scientifically justified to save human lives. Also at issue: When is enough enough? When do chimps who've given much in the name of science get to retire to the relative freedom of a sanctuary?
One reason chimpanzee research is so controversial is that these amazing creatures share 98 percent of our DNA and have many human traits, including emotions ranging from joy to sadness and fear.
"Remember we're talking about our closest living relatives with brains so sophisticated that they can do a lot of problems on a computer with a touchpad, faster than secondary school students. That's how bright they are," said famed anthropologist and primatologist Jane Goodall in an interview with NBC News.
Dr. Goodall has worked tirelessly for decades to improve the lives of lab chimps and to persuade scientists and the government that this research should be banned.
"All invasive research is torture," Goodall says. "And it's not just the procedures. It's the imprisonment. It's being kept in a small space with no choice. You just are there. You're powerless."
Over the four days our team spent at Texas Biomed, our cameras were required to shoot from a "safe zone," since many of the chimps, like Ken and Rosie, are infected with viruses such as Hepatitis C and HIV. So to get close-ups of the chimps, we built special equipment to attach small cameras to the cages. At first, the chimps tried to remove them — and then, were fascinated by seeing their own reflections in the camera lens.
We saw three different types of housing where the chimps live, enrichment which involves activities to keep them engaged, and their interaction with behaviorists. We observed how the chimpanzees are trained to voluntarily present their own body parts to receive shots. We also were allowed to watch one of Lanford's experiments in which a chimp who'd been infected with the Hepatitis C virus was sedated and then bled. Lanford has been working to find a vaccine for over a decade.
Testing on chimps has saved lives in the past: it helped produce the Hepatitis B vaccine which is now given to children at birth.
But scientists disagree about whether chimps are needed to find a cure for Hepatitis C. Lanford says testing on chimps will save human lives. Chimps are crucial, he says, because they're the only animals that can be infected with the virus. Unlike humans, they don't develop liver disease.
Scientists here also argue that they provide a quality of life for chimpanzees which is just as good as a sanctuary, and that instead of being retired, chimps like Rosie and Ken should live out their days in the labs, in case they are needed for research in the future.
"I think of the chimpanzees in the same way that I think of a library. There are many books in the library that will never be used this year or next year," VandeBerg says. "Many of them might never be used again. But we don't know which ones will be needed tomorrow, next year or the year after."
Anthropologist and primatologist Jane Goodall.
Goodall says that's a terrible idea. "Most of them are just stockpiled. Most of them are not being used. They're just there in case maybe one day we might want to use them again," she said. "I definitely think at a certain point, they deserve to be freed from this kind of life of servitude."
Whether a chimp gets to retire is entirely up to the labs and the government. There is no ethical standard or uniform criteria.
According to Goodall, "the tragedy is that some of the chimps in the labs know nothing else. They have never tasted any kind of freedom in their lives. Freedom to choose, freedom to go where they want."
To see what life looks like for lab chimps lucky enough to be deemed no longer needed for research, we spent two days at the National Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Shreveport, Louisiana. It's aptly known as "Chimp Haven."
In the back woods of Louisiana, for the first time in most of their lives, the chimps can walk on grass, swing in the trees ... and forage in the forest.
Dr. Linda Brent founded Chimp Haven, after spending 16 years as a behaviorist at Texas Biomed. "Everything we do here, from the way the facility was built to the things we give to the chimpanzees and the way we manage the facility, every decision we make is for the welfare of the chimpanzees," she says.
Additional Resources: For more information on the National Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Chimp Haven, click here. For more information on the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, click here. For more information on Jane Goodall’s work and the Jane Goodall Institute, click here. To learn about a group of lab chimpanzees that Goodall helped get placed in the Fauna sanctuary outside of Montreal, Canada, click here. To learn more about the Great Ape Protection Act that Goodall is working to pass, click here.
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This article does a very good job of showing the conditions of these chimps for this one lab in the United States. The truth is that these are not the normal conditions for chimps and other primates which are continually tested on in labs all over the United States. YES they are kept in cramped cages ALL THE TIME, YES they do go through horrendous testing and pain, YES they are suffering extreme mental anguish and stress. I know because I volunteered at a Shands animal laboratory at the University of Florida as a "primate enricher" and the things I saw those poor animals go through on a daily basis for the few weeks I was there still gives me nightmares. I will never, ever forget it.
Thanks for posting this.
E. Webster Sadly you are not the only one who has spoken out. We have many video's to prove that these animalsl are subjected to very inhumane treatment, and unfortunately, some go completely insane from the isolation and the destructive nature of these facilities. Another researcher Diana Goodrich at http://www.chimpsanctuarynw.org/ was so disturbed by it she bought 7 of the Chimpanzee's and opened a Sanctuary in the NW. Because of great people like YOU who are willing to tell these stories, the end of Chimpanzee research may soon be at an end.
Slinger-958418 and debR-5088087: thank-you for your comments!
I hope very much not only for an end to chimpanzee research, but for an end to all primate research and all animal studies period. There is no reason why we cannot focus on seriously developing technology to perform studies on human tissues grown in a laboratory combined with computer model systems so that all animals studies can be stopped entirely forever. We are suppose to be a progressive society - it's time we started acting like it!
This is such a devastating way of treating animals, free these poor animals and let them live their life they way the should, as animals. Stop the experimental testing!!!!!
Of course the scientist claim these are necessary tests to save mankind from diseases. If animal testing stopped world wide these guys would be out of work and cleaning bathrooms or filling prescriptions in a drug store. They earn over a hundred grand a year plus bonuses. Every time a rainforest area is destroyed, more bacterium is released into the world and the testing goes on and on. The more we encroach into their world, we infect them with our diseases until every last primate is extinct.
The fact that are a highly intelligent LIVING, FEELING creature means WE as humans have NO right to torture them through experimentation. Doesn't matter the results - this is human arrogance at it's finest and truly sad. Find another way - that's how morally sound people think.
I might understand experimenting on animals to save human lives if we on the endangered species list, but there are over 7 billion people on the planet! How many chimps do you think there are? Humans would never allow another species to multiply to 7 billion. This is sick. We have no right to hold these animals like this. Isn't it bad enough that we are taking away most of the planets resorces, polluting beond repair and exploiting natural habitats from all other amimals. I hope there is a special place for compasionate people like Jane Goodall. It is sad something has to die for something to live, but nothing has to be tortured for something to live.
There is only one word to describe this kind of experimentation "BARBARIC". Use death row inmates instead of these inocent chimps. Those people can at this stage make a decision to do some good for mankind after screwing up their own lives and the lives of their victims. Give them a few extra priviledges or a few bucks to spend at the prison store and I am sure there would be volunteers. These chimps do not have that choice.
Why do they have to hurt these poor helpless creatures?? What dumb asses! It makes me sick to read this. Why dont they experiment on the people in our prision system that have done unthinkable crimes instead of torturing animals who have done absolutely nothing! This country really is sick!
Experiment on our criminals,let them give something back. The Chimps are a 98% match to our DNA and the criminals are 100%. Free the chimps, they have done nothing wrong.
I do agree. We should stop testing on animals. I also think we should test on humans instead. After all the drugs they test are for us anyway. Who among you will offer up yourselves or your children for the next untested experimental drug. Oh, and don't forget, SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!!
Many, many of these animals are much brighter than probably 30% of the citizens of this country. I would stop testing on these animals and start testing on inmates, as it would result in better answers. It might also help deter crime.
You've got to be kidding, right?
Which of my statements are you asking about? 1st statement is absolutely true.
2nd statement i would do as well. So I guess I answered your question. The crime prevention is the only one I'm not sure about.
Which of my statements are you asking about? 1st statement is absolutely true.
2nd statement i would do as well. So I guess I answered your question. The crime prevention is the only one I'm not sure about.
Human beings are the only species on earth who knows they can alleviate their own suffering by intentionally inflicting suffering to other species, under the guise of "medical" research. Questions to ponder: 1. Is the value of a human life determined by how many diseases it can escape? 2. What is it about humans that makes us so unwilling to endure our own illnesses?
People are sick...
I used to be completely opposed to any type of animal research... until I became engaged to a scientist. I still don't like it, but after many, many hours of talk with someone who does animal research, I've slowly come to realize that unfortunately, it is necessary. I was also surprised to hear that many of the assumptions I have about animal research were false. Not exaggerated, flat out false.
You guys do know that ALL grants written that involve the use of animals have to go through a rigorous approval process by the NIH, right? And you do know that a lot of those grants are denied? And also that there are only a few places in the US allowed to do primate research, and they are required to use as few animals as possible?
Freeing these animals and setting them back in the wild (as some here have suggested) would be a catastrophe.
I don't think it's right to use animals for cosmetic research, let's be honest here no amount of gawdy makeup is going to help, or bad smelling perfume.
I disagree, if I get sick then it is the law of nature that I pass on and so be it..
Love is blind. This is wrong no matter how you sugar coat it. We compromise too much by animal experiments, factory farming, exploiting the enviornment all to over multiply and support a way of live that is wrong. Most people are on some form of drugs to cope. The things we do to keep people alive shows we have no respect for life.
Why is it whenever a story comes out about animals, someone always has to respond negatively. This is to gethimout: Why can't we love all God's creatures and wish all are treated humanely so no one suffers?
This makes me sick to read this! What dumb asses! These are poor helpless creatures that deserve a real life in their own invironment. Why dont they to these horrendous tests on the people in prisons that have done unthinkable crimes??? These animals and any other animals they use for testing have done nothing to deserve this!
This makes me sick to read this! What dumb asses! These are poor helpless creatures that deserve a real life in their own invironment. Why dont they to these horrendous tests on the people in prisons that have done unthinkable crimes??? These animals and any other animals they use for testing have done nothing to deserve this!
Human beings are the only species on earth who know we can alleviate our own suffering by intentionally cause other species to suffer, under the guise of “medical” research. Questions to ponder: 1. Is the value of a human life measured by the number of diseases from which it escapes? 2. Why are humans so unwilling to endure our own suffering?
This story makes me cry. There has to be another way. Rosie and Ken deserve better than this.
Please, those of you out there who say that cures for diseases have been found because of animal experimentation, don't throw that at me. There has to be another way than to use defenseless animals to find cures for disease. I'd rather die than have animals sacrificed to save my own life.
This makes me sick to read this! What dumb asses! These are poor helpless creatures that deserve a real life in their own invironment. Why dont they to these horrendous tests on the people in prisons that have done unthinkable crimes??? These animals and any other animals they use for testing have done nothing to deserve this!
I find it hipocritical when so-called stars like "Ellen Degeneres" respresent and take large sums of money from make up companies like Cover Girl when "Ellen" claims to be an animal lover. Doesn't Ellen know that the make up company she is accepting large sums of money from are testing their so called beauty products on animals? Either Ellen has chosen to turn a blind eye to the animal testing going on, or, she doesn't care about the animals suffering as a result of the testing they are being subjected to all in the name of providing "beauty" products for consumers. I would love to hear Ellen's side of the story. Ellen, your willingness to accept money from Cover Girl knowing that Cover Girl are testing their products on helpless animals speaks volumnes about your "do as I say, don't do as I do" attitude. How many of your fans would turn on you if they knew you in effect support make up companies like Cover Girl using helpless animals to test their beauty products.
Ed
Like most things these days it is all about greed. Ellen does not need a Cover Girl contract to make ends meet. But she is willing to subject animals to having makeup poured in their eyes so she can make an extra buck. Sick!
Cover Girl does not test cosmetics on animals. Their parent company, P&G, still tests their health care products on animals. It's a distinction without much difference, maybe.
Cruelty to animals is unforgivable, those who commit it or accept it as irrelevant are usually not worthy of the title "human being".
people who do this @!$%# belong in hell. we are destined to orchestrate our own demise...by war, destroying ecology, or a super virus. humans are idiots.
Awww thank you for helping us, Rosie.
Um, theres people that already have the hiv virus and your giving it to chimps to test on them...WTF. Oh, it would be a travesty to cure someone on accident without charging them now wouldn't it?
If they are done with the damnd things then kill them. Why waste money keeping them alive.
Smarty pants - your taxes unless you are an illegal or a thug goes to pay for lazy ass prisoners or deadbeat welfare recipients.
Fab, that is another issue I don't agree with but we are talking about animals/livestock. They are disposable, unlike the dregs of society.
Really, maybe you have a soft spot for the filthy tax leeches I don't. I would be so happy to be in charge of "disposing" of the convict who can get an MBA while I have to work to pay for it. The child molester who lures in the playgrounds. The terrorist who gets on planes and kill people.
Animals and livestock are the least disposable to me.
I should have said, "Unfortunatly, they are disposable unlike the dregs of society".
which should be because they are in a comfy prison watching cable tv and cards..while we are busting our butts having to work