Recently, CNN aired a program in which John Zarella visited chimps that had been in labs and were to be moved to a sanctuary.
Thousands of chimpanzees have been used in research and are still cooped up in cages. There is a debate in Congress whether chimps should endure that kind of captivity. This bill would ban invasive research in chimps.
Thousands of chimps were used for testing of beauty products and prescription drugs, medical testing and even space travel.
Zarella followed a group of chimps housed at what used to be a lab, which lost federal funding due to animal abuse. The owner faced bankruptcy and then sold some of the chimps to the Save the Chimps sanctuary.
Every chimp has its own personality. Before traveling to the sanctuary Save the Chimps opened up the walls of the labs so chimps could visit another other.
There are many chimps still in labs.
There are better ways to research than using chimps. Scientists have found that a human gene can be inserted into a mouse. And there are many ways to use nonanimal modes.
Chimps have not proved useful for research for humans. Although they have 98 percent human DNA, they are different in ways that testing does not consider.
When the chimps reached the sanctuary, they were greeted by other chimps with hugs and to open doors to fresh air, sunshine and grass.
See the Disney movie "Chimpanzee." Part of the proceeds go to Jane Goodall.
Barbara Steinberg
Kihei
