Primarily Primates Chimps Relocated
Posted by: Craig Woolheater on November 22nd, 2006
I have covered the plight of Primarily Primates here on Cryptomundo in the past.
Seven of the nine chimps that were sent to Primarily Primates in San Antonio earlier this year from Ohio State University have been relocated. The other two died shortly after their arrival at Primarily primates.
They have been sent to Chimp Haven, a sanctuary near Shreveport, Lousiana.
I do not know what fate is awaiting Oliver.
Chimp Haven seems to be an excellent facility that uses natural enclosures, as opposed to cages. Chimp Haven hosts Chimpanzee Discovery Day monthly, where the sanctuary is open to the public. They are closed to the public during winter months, but will re-open in the spring.
Let’s hope the rest of the animals still at Primarily Primates fare as well.
Here is a link to an article from the San Antonio Express-News about the conditions at Primarily Primates.
Here is a link to an article from the Shreveport Times after the chimps arrived at Chimp Haven.
Co-founder of Cryptomundo in 2005.
I have appeared in or contributed to the following TV programs, documentaries and films:
OLN's Mysterious Encounters: "Caddo Critter", Southern Fried Bigfoot, Travel Channel's Weird Travels: "Bigfoot", History Channel's MonsterQuest: "Swamp Stalker", The Wild Man of the Navidad, Destination America's Monsters and Mysteries in America: Texas Terror - Lake Worth Monster, Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot: Return to Boggy Creek and Beast of the Bayou.
Regarding the two who died, why did they die, and are they going to Chimp Haven too, or just Chimp Heaven?
In my experience, Chimp Haven is an excellent facility, I visited the location after they opened and the staff is very dedicated. Several individuals connected with Chimp Haven, including director Dr. Linda Brent herself, were very gracious and even commented on camera about her views on the possibility of indigenous primates (a.k.a. BigFoot) in the local area. They are well equipped and funded and have what it takes to care for the OSU Chimps.
Ha, they’re being sent to my state! How fortunate for them, since Chimp Haven is an excellent facility.
I hope there is a follow up on Oliver- hopefully things will get better now.
FYI Chimp Haven is not a sanctuary. The government holds the title to the chimpanzees and they can be recalled into vivisection at any point. There is an explanation of what Chimp Haven is on Friends of Animals’ blog.
You might also be interested to know that Thomas Butler, Chairman of the Chimp Haven Board of Directors, gave Primarily Primates a glowing recommendation before the OSU chimpanzees were sent there. Read his letter here.
Various people have various motivations to bring down Primarily Primates, but none of them have anything to do with how the animals are treated there. To understand the motives, check out this column: The struggle to save a sanctuary and a movement published in the Ithaca Journal.
Please visit http://www.kermitscommunity.com for information about the former OSU chimpanzees and the situation at PPI