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http://www.sciam.com/print_version.cfm?articleID=C035F58B-E7F2-99DF-30C3D8163A583B75

May 24, 2007
                
U.S. stops breeding chimps for research

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. National Institutes of Health, which
supports a variety of biomedical studies using animals, will stop
breeding government-owned chimpanzees for research -- a step animal
rights advocates lauded on Thursday.

The NIH's National Center for Research Resources cited financial
reasons for its decision this week to permanently cease breeding of
government-owned chimpanzees for research. A breeding moratorium on
NCRR-owned and supported chimpanzees had been in place since 1995.

The Humane Society of the United States said it suspects that ethical
reasons also were involved in the decision. The group, which opposes
the use of these apes as lab animals, said the decision on ending
breeding likely also means NIH no longer will be acquiring new
chimpanzees through other means.

Because chimpanzees are physiologically and genetically similar to
people, they have been used in medical research defended by many
scientists but scorned by animals rights advocates on ethical grounds.

"This decision is a huge step towards a day when chimpanzees are no
longer used in invasive biomedical research and testing," Kathleen
Conlee of the Humane Society said in a statement.

'MONUMENTAL DECISION'

"This will spare some chimpanzees a life of up to 60 years in a
laboratory. While it doesn't help chimpanzees already living in
laboratories, it is a monumental decision," Conlee added. "Our
ultimate goal is to put an end (to) the use of chimpanzees in research
and retire those chimpanzees to permanent and appropriate sanctuary."

The Humane Society said the NCRR's chimpanzee population includes
about 500 in laboratories and 90 more in a federal sanctuary for those
deemed no longer needed for research.

In a statement on its Web site, NCRR said it acknowledges the
continuing importance of chimpanzees to biomedical research, but cited
"fiduciary responsibilities" to maintain the health and well-being of
chimpanzees already in its care.

The center said chimpanzees can live at least 50 years in captivity,
and that high-quality care for a single animal over its lifespan can
cost up to $500,000. It said it also must meet budget responsibilities
to other programs and resources.

"Therefore, after careful review of existing chimpanzee resources,
NCRR has determined that it does not have the financial resources to
support the breeding of chimpanzees that are owned or supported by
NCRR," the center said.

"However, NCRR will continue to honor its commitments to the existing
chimpanzee facilities, including the federal sanctuary for chimpanzees
that are no longer needed in biomedical research," the center added.

The advocacy group Project R&R: Release and Restitution for
Chimpanzees in U.S. Laboratories said about 1,300 chimpanzees are
currently in U.S. laboratories. It said some were caught in the wild
as babies in Africa while others were born in laboratories or sent
from zoos, circuses and animal trainers.

Theodora Capaldo, the group's executive director, said that "not only
U.S. but also world sentiment is growing in support of the day when no
chimpanzees will be used in laboratory research."