Chimpanzees to retire from US government research

[dipsydoodle]

The National Institute of Health, the largest funder of medical research in the US, is planning to stop using chimpanzees in laboratory experiments. But where will the chimpanzees go and how will it affect scientific research?

The head of the National Institute of Health (NIH) said its decision to retire more than 300 chimpanzees from research would help usher in a "compassionate era" of scientific research.

As man's closest relative in the animal kingdom, NIH director Dr Francis Collins said that chimpanzees "deserve special respect".

"These amazing animals have taught us a great deal already," he said, as he announced the policy change at the end of June.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23322774

[Deep13]

1. So, what other human analogues will scientists use for testing? nt

[Mopar151]

2. College students, winos, prisioners

We are pretty much there already - think of all the ads running for paid medical studies.

[Deep13]

3. The scientists need to warn those people that...

...whatever they are testing has not been tested on the closest animal analogue to humans.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. Soldiers / The Armed Forces

Agent Orange was the tip of the iceberg - there were oter colors - and it was the other colors that Fed Gov ADMITTED killed my dad. The - fast forward to Gulf War Syndrome from the physical symptoms as opposed to mental anguish.

I don't type those words with glee - I type them with great sadness.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Hopefully they will go here

http://www.chimphaven.org/

There were videos a few weeks ago when the news first broke in the US of recently released chimps seeing the outside for the first time. Amazing.

This is the right thing to do.

[RandiFan1290]

6. Thank you! also a great rescue in Florida

http://www.savethechimps.org/

They are not zoos and they get to live out their lives with almost no human contact

[JustAnotherGen]

7. Oh thanks for that link!

I'm not a big animal type person - but moneys, chimps, gorillas etc etc I don't see as "animals". Huge soft spot. I'll budget a donation to this facility next month. I've *head in paperbag* sponsored a few chimps at Chimp Have. They are "ours"- no different than any animal I've taken in - we are responsible for these guys.