We’ve been caring for more than 60 chimpanzees, abandoned in Liberia by the New York Blood Center, for more than a year. Photo by Carol Guzy/For The HSUS
After the New York Blood Center abandoned more than 60 chimpanzees on a series of islands in Liberia without sufficient food or water for the animals to survive, we responded to the emergency – at the inopportune time that the country was going through an Ebola crisis. We’ve been caring for these chimps for more than a year, at great expense, in what amounts to yet another unfunded liability for the animal protection movement – with irresponsible actors dumping the cost of care on us.
Thankfully so many people are stepping up with generous support. The latest help came from Citigroup, which donated $50,000 for the care of the chimps. The banking giant also released a statement urging “all parties involved to come up with a sustainable solution to ensure that these chimpanzees get the care they need.” We stand ready to talk and to work through a solution that is good for the chimpanzees and that requires NYBC to fulfill its obligations.
In the video below, you can see the amazing transformation of these chimpanzees in just over a year, since we and a coalition of 37 organizations and chimpanzee experts stepped in to help them. We have employed about 30 individuals to care for the animals, and in the video you can hear some of these long-time caretakers discuss their experiences, along with Jim and Jenny Desmond, two colleagues who deployed to Liberia to support our efforts there.
It’s past time for NYBC to step up and pay for costs of care. The HSUS and individuals and institutions shouldn’t have to pick up the pieces of a problem created solely by the New York-based charity that used these animals in research and previously pledged to provide lifetime care for them.
Please watch the video and then write to NYBC. Let them know you want them to recommit to helping the chimpanzees.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3-fuePxVxU
The post A Year After New York Blood Center Abandoned Them, Liberian Chimps Are Thriving Under Humane Care appeared first on A Humane Nation.