Information on NIH-Owned or -Supported Chimpanzees

Update on Chimpanzees at the Alamogordo Primate Facility (APF)

Due to a change in the status of contract staffing at the Alamogordo Primate Facility (APF) in which long-term care of the NIH chimpanzees at APF cannot be guaranteed, NIH decided in November 2024 that the best course of action for the welfare of these chimpanzees is to relocate them to the federal sanctuary at Chimp Haven. NIH learned from its contractor that a significant number of contract staff are expected to retire by July 2025. Recruitment and training of new staff has proven difficult due to the specialized nature of the work and APF’s remote location. NIH recognizes that the health status of these chimpanzees increases the risk of adverse events during transport and integration to life in the federal sanctuary. Relocation of chimpanzees is a complex, time-consuming process and the timeline for relocation of each individual chimpanzee is an animal-welfare driven process with consideration of health and social grouping. NIH, APF and Chimp Haven will make every effort to ensure the health and safety of the chimpanzees during the relocation process.

NIH Veterinary Panel

In November 2018, NIH established a panel of NIH veterinarians with chimpanzee or other non-human primate expertise (Panel) independent from the NIH Chimpanzee Management Program, external stakeholder groups or organizations, and sites holding chimpanzees. The Panel was established to review the records of at-risk chimpanzees  when the attending veterinarian determined that a chimpanzee should not move to the federal sanctuary located at Chimp Haven, Inc. because of health or welfare related concerns. In addition to medical records, this review included discussing with the attending veterinarian his/her rationale for not signing the health certificate necessary for transfer, and consulting with other veterinary specialists who have examined the animals, and if needed, examining the chimpanzees to determine if the chimpanzees should be relocated or remain at their current facility.

Alamogordo Primate Facility

The Panel met for the first time in February 2019 to begin reviewing records for at-risk, NIH-owned chimpanzees located at the Alamogordo Primate Facility (APF). In September 2019, the Panel completed its APF review following a protocol they developed to ensure uniform standards. The Panel agreed with the APF attending veterinarian’s decision about which animals should remain at APF.

Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research

In September 2021, the Panel completed its initial review of animals at the Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research (KCCMR). The NIH veterinary panel agrees with the KCCMR assessment on 49 of the 51 chimpanzees and has determined these chimpanzees should live the remainder of their lives at KCCMR to ensure their safety and welfare. NIH agrees with this decision.

In October-November 2021, the NIH Veterinary Panel engaged in further discussions with the KCCMR and Chimp Haven about the 2 animals in question. KCCMR provided additional medical and behavioral information to Chimp Haven and to the NIH Veterinary Panel. After extensive communications with the KCCMR staff and Chimp Haven staff, the Panel concurred with recommendations of both facilities to not relocate these 2 chimpanzees.

There are 7 chimpanzees located at KCCMR that are not being moved at this time because they serve as behavioral support for another chimpanzee that is not being moved. If that paired chimpanzee dies, the other chimpanzee will be re-evaluated for potential transfer to Chimp Haven based on their age, health, behavior, social grouping, and environmental needs.

Southwest National Primate Research Center

In November 2021,the NIH Veterinary Panel completed its review of NIH-supported animals at the Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC). The Panel agreed with the SNPRC attending veterinarian’s decision about which animals should remain at SNPRC.

There are 2 chimpanzees located at SNPRC that are not being moved at this time because they serve as behavioral support for another chimpanzee that is not being moved. If that paired chimpanzee dies, the other chimpanzee will be re-evaluated for potential transfer to Chimp Haven based on their age, health, behavior, social grouping, and environmental needs.

Working Group on Assessing the Safety of Relocating At-Risk Chimpanzees

On January 26, 2018, NIH charged the Council of Councils with assembling a working group to assess the safety of relocating at-risk chimpanzees. The Working Group was to provide advice and recommendations on factors to be considered by attending veterinarian staff when deciding whether to relocate NIH-owned or -supported chimpanzees between federally supported facilities and the federal chimpanzee sanctuary. On May 18, 2018, the Working Group presented their findings to the Council of Councils, which subsequently adopted the report and recommendations and transmitted them to NIH for consideration. The NIH issued a public request for information until August 10, 2018, to obtain broad input and inform the agency in its decisions regarding the Working Group’s recommendations. On October 17, 2018, the NIH released a report summarizing the public comments and announcing its decisions on assessing the safety of relocating at-risk chimpanzees owned or supported by NIH to the federal chimpanzee sanctuary system.

Chimpanzee Research Use Panel

(Working Group disbanded following NIH decision to no longer fund biomedical research using chimpanzees.)

Working Group on the Use of Chimpanzees in NIH-Supported Research

On Feb. 2, 2012, NIH charged the Council of Councils with assembling a working group to propose advice on implementing recommendations by the Institute of Medicine (now the National Academies) to consider the size and placement of the active and inactive populations of NIH-owned and -supported chimpanzees.  On January 22, 2013, the Council of Councils accepted the working group’s recommendations and provided these recommendations to the NIH. After seeking and considering public comments, the agency accepted a majority of the Council’s recommendations on June 26, 2013.

Timeline of NIH Decision to End the Use of Chimpanzees in Research

November 2024NIH decided to relocate the remaining chimpanzees from the Alamogordo Primate Facility to Chimp Haven.
November 2021The NIH Veterinary Panel made a determination that the 11 remaining NIH-supported chimpanzees at the Southwest National Primate Research Center should remain at that facility and not be relocated to Chimp Haven.
November 2021Following receipt of additional medical and behavioral information from the Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research (KCCMR), and extensive communication with KCCMR staff and Chimp Haven staff, the NIH Veterinary Panel concurred with recommendations of both facilities to not relocate the remaining 2 chimpanzees from KCCMR to Chimp Haven. Both chimpanzees in question will remain at KCCMR.
September 2021The NIH Veterinary Panel made a determination that 49 of the remaining NIH-owned chimpanzees at the Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research should remain at that facility, and additional assessments including physical examination are needed for an additional 2 chimpanzees.
September 2019The NIH Veterinary Panel made its determination that the remaining NIH-owned chimpanzees at the Alamogordo Primate Facility (APF), based on their health and social groupings, should remain at that facility.
February 2019The NIH-established panel of three NIH veterinarians with expertise in chimpanzees or other nonhuman primate veterinary medicine first met in February 2019 to begin reviewing records for chimpanzees at the APF. In November 2018, NIH formed this panel of three veterinarians who are independent from the NIH Chimpanzee Management Program, external stakeholder groups or organizations, and sites holding chimpanzees to review the records of NIH-owned or supported chimpanzee under consideration for relocation, discuss with the sending attending veterinarian his/her rationale for not signing the health certificate necessary for transfer, and consult with other veterinary specialists who have examined the animals, and if needed, to examine the chimpanzees, to determine if the chimpanzees should be relocated or remain at their current facility.
February 2019NIH publishes a standardized chimpanzee health categorization framework to inform relocation decisions of at-risk chimpanzees.
October 2018NIH announces its decisions on recommendations from the Council of Councils on relocation of at-risk chimpanzees.
May 2018NIH Council of Councils presents recommendations.
February 2018NIH charges a working group of the Council of Councils to assess the safety of relocating at-risk chimpanzees.
August 2016NIH develops plan to retire NIH-owned and -supported chimpanzees
November 2015NIH announces it will no longer support biomedical research using chimpanzees
June 2015U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalizes rule listing all chimpanzees as endangered under the endangered species act
June 2013NIH announces it will significantly reduce the use of chimpanzees in research
January 2013NIH Council of Councils presents recommendations.
December 2011NIH Director accepts NAS recommendations and charges a working group of the Council of Councils to make recommendation on how to implement them.
December 2011The National Academies (then the IOM) issues report: Chimpanzees in Biomedical and Behavioral Research: Assessing the Necessity. Concludes that most current use of chimpanzees in biomedical research is unnecessary and that the use of chimpanzees in research that may still be needed should be guided by a set of principles and criteria.
December 2010NIH Director commissioned a study by the Institute of Medicine to determine the continued scientific need for chimpanzees in NIH-funded research.
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