The latest from the closing of the OSU Chimp Center

5/07/06 - from Texas - Primates in the courtroom: Sanctuary at center of fight

If you believe everything you read, seven chimpanzees and two capuchin monkeys hired their own lawyer and went to court in Bexar County last week, asserting they were entitled to a court-appointed guardian who would take care of them and oversee $200,000 that has been pledged to their well-being.

4/25/06 - NINE OF TWELVE ANIMALS LEFT, ONLY TWO DEATHS MADE PUBLIC BY OSU

To read about this tragic story from the beginning click here.

5/20/06 - Bobby - from the Dispatch - OSU chimp’s enlarged heart went undetected

5/22/06 - Bobby's necropsy report

5/22/06 - And from the San Antonio paper - "Two chimps are dead and a capuchin monkey is missing. What’s going on at SA’s Primarily Primates?" - BAD MONKEY BUSINESS

6/4/06 - from Great Ape Standing and Personhood - Sanctuary Under Seige

8/17/06 - from the Dispatch - Trustee urges judge to move chimps again

9/9/06 - from the Dispatch - Former OSU chimps won't be moving, judge decides

Without comment the judge reverses himself, ignores the trustee report and dismisses the case.

October - included here are three stories about the Texas AG taking over PPI and the appointment of a caretaker. The Dispatch also discusses the living conditions of the OSU chimps.

Nov. 17th, 2006, The Columbus Dispatch - OSU chimps moved from San Antonio facility
Nov. 17th, 2006, San Antonio - Chimps moved (includes a link to video of the caretakers talking about the chimpanzees in their care)
Nov. 18th, 2006, The Columbus Dispatch - OSU chimps moved to Louisiana ‘haven’

11-17-06 CHIMP HAVEN RESCUES CHIMPANZEES IN NEED

April 27th, 2007 - Chicago Tribune & San Antonio - Former operators to get facility back

May 1st, 2007 The Dispatch headline - OSU chimps may go back to Texas

On January 4th, 2008 Kermit's Community suffered yet another devastating and shocking loss when Darrell passed away at Chimp Haven. He was 28 years old.

February 19, 2008 - Chimp Haven to decide whether it will fight to keep Texas chimps

February 13, 2009 - Ex-Texas chimps to stay in Caddo sanctuary (Chimp Haven)

Court of appeals ruling translates into victory for local sanctuary

By John Andrew Prime
jprime@gannett.com

A court tug of war over six chimpanzees seems to be over after a Texas appeals court judge ruled Wednesday the retired research chimps from Ohio State University will remain at Chimp Haven.

"Chimp Haven is pleased with the opinion of the court of appeals," said Linda Brent, the Caddo sanctuary's director and president. "We look forward to continuing to provide excellent care to the chimpanzees Sarah, Sheba, Keeli, Ivy, Harper and Emma for the rest of their lives at Chimp Haven."

The ruling in San Antonio's 4th Court of Appeals ends a nearly three-year legal battle through dismissal of a lawsuit brought by the San Antonio sanctuary Primarily Primates. The petition sought to force Chimp Haven, also known as the National Chimpanzee Sanctuary, to return the animals to Texas.

The chimps were brought to Louisiana in November 2006 after Texas seized Primarily Primates and placed it in receivership.

When the receivership was finished, Primarily Primates asked for the return of the animals, which the Caddo sanctuary refused, citing bonds the chimps had formed with others of their kind here, and their overall improved condition in Louisiana.

Primarily Primates sued to get the animals back and received a favorable ruling from Bexar (County) District Court.

But the appeals court said the Bexar court did not have jurisdiction to make that ruling.

Noting the cost of contesting the ruling during toughening economic times, Primarily Primates President Priscilla Feral said her sanctuary would not pursue the matter anymore.

"We cannot jeopardize the safety of the whole group and the refuge itself to spend money on cases that turn into disagreements between courts and go on for three years or more," Feral said, noting her facility has just accepted several new tenants and is expanding habitats.

"Every penny is needed for animal care. I look at these beautiful renovations and I know we must be careful to protect all we've done here."

Brent said there is paperwork to complete.

Chimp Haven is engaged in talks with Primarily Primates to ensure Chimp Haven remains the six chimps' permanent home.

Chimp Haven is open to the public; Primarily Primates is not.

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Visit Save Kermit's Community and read the latest news. As well check their blog for the latest on the chimps at Chimp Haven.

From Kermit's Community the reaction to the proposed return of the chimps to PPI. We agree with their comments!!!

Sunday, April 29, 2007
Tragic Deja Vu
When the sad story of the transfer of the OSU chimps began, there were fatal mistakes made on the part of those responsible at the University and on the part of those responsible at PPI.

The death of Kermit, Bobby, and the disappearance and presumed death of Jane could have been prevented if well-trained individuals were involved in the transfer. As we at Kermit’s Community have said from the outset, the caregivers who the animals knew, trusted, and loved should have been allowed to help with the transition period. This is standard animal care practice and it is particularly important for highly sensitive and intelligent chimpanzees. Every compassionate individual who oversees chimpanzee care knows just how crucial a stable transition is for the well being of the animals. Every reputable chimpanzee facility allows (and some require) that there be a period of time in which departing caretakers introduce new caretakers. Many chimpanzee facilities require that caretakers accompany the chimps to the new environment to help with the transition.
PPI did not allow caretakers to accompany the nine chimps and 3 monkeys from OSU and Kermit and Bobby died. Three members of the board of PPI who condoned the conditions that led to these, and other deaths, as well as the person who funded the campaign to keep chimpanzees in tortured conditions and defended the neglect that led to Kermit and Bobby’s deaths are back in charge of PPI.

And what is the first thing they are doing? Violating basic standards of chimpanzee care and abruptly removing care takers, changing care practices, and thus creating unnecessary distress for the chimpanzees and other animals.

The state appointed receiver allowed the former care staff to remain at PPI, even when they were causing all sorts of difficulties for the new staff and volunteers. Lee Watt put the well-being of the animals first and allowed the former care staff to remain for a reasonable transition period.

Apparently, putting the well-being of the animals ahead of ideologies and personal or political vendettas is not what the new PPI board is interested in. They weren’t interested in it as they allowed chimpanzees to suffer, to starve, to remain isolated, and to perish – there is no evidence that they have changed. They may very well care about the concept of “animals,” but caring for actual individuals requires more than rhetoric.