Chimps, Inc. Saves The Chimps
Posted By: Liz Goodrich
Date Posted: 9/25/2007
Deschutes Public Library is pleased to welcome Chelsea Johnson, Operations Manager of CHIMPS, Inc. for a program at the Redmond Public Library on September 26, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. The program is free and open to the public.
CHIMPS, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(C)3-1 organization dedicated to furthering chimpanzee conservation through education. The private sanctuary outside of Tumalo, Chimps, Inc. offers a safe haven for released chimpanzees to live out their lives in dignity. Many chimpanzees in the United States spend their first 13 to 14 years in biomedical research, the entertainment field, or parks/zoos. After reaching adulthood, their services are no longer necessary and according to Johnson, euthanasia was the next step, making sanctuaries unnecessary. Now that we are more aware of the 98.4% genetic compatibility of the chimpanzees to humans, it is no longer morally acceptable to murder our sibling species. Fortunately, concerned individuals have dedicated themselves to providing chimps with the best possible care for the remainder of their years (which can reach beyond 50 years) at sanctuaries around the country.
The task of establishing a sanctuary is complicated. Enclosures are expensive to build and the cost of daily care to ensure that their lives are enriched and dynamic can be staggering. “We are in great need for chimpanzee sanctuaries in North America,” says Johnson. There are less than 10 accredited sanctuaries in the US and most are at capacity for the number of animals that they can support. According to Johnson, “Sanctuaries make a lifetime commitment to the animals in their care and provide the animals with a place to retire in peace, with dignity and privacy.”
For more information about this or other library programs, please call 312-1032.
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