Tag Archives | primates

Gas Group Gives Gorillas Ground

May 20, 2013

(WILDLIFE) French oil and gas company Total reassured shareholders and animals lovers after announcing they will not search for oil in Congo’s Virunga National Park—the home to mountain gorillas and a Unesco World Heritage site. Chairman Christophe de Margerie said they will not prospect for oil out of respect for the heritage and conservation site, which is Africa’s oldest national park. Read on for more information regarding this admirable decision to preserve these species and their habitat. — Global Animal

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Chimps Put Human Memory To Shame

April 11, 2013

(ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE) Evidence is starting to prove that we have seriously underestimated our animal friends’ intelligence as we often test them in ways that work for humans but not with other species. Scientists are finally seeing eye to eye with animals’ intellectual aptitude in both scope and scale while taking into consideration an animal’s anatomy and special abilities. As researchers begin to think about tests from the animal’s perspective, they are finding out that chimps have a better memory than humans among other surprising discoveries. Read on to learn more about how this shift in research is fundamentally reshaping our understanding of animal intelligence. — Global Animal

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Great Ape Populations Dwindle As Illegal Trade Thrives

March 6, 2013

(ANIMAL TRADE) According to a UN report released this week, nearly 3,000 great apes are killed or captured in the wild each year because of the thriving illegal trade—usually to be sold as exotic pets, bought by disreputable zoos, or exploited by tourism. The study also revealed that approximately more than 22,000 great apes were lost to the illegal animal trade between 2005 and 2011. This comes as startling news considering that the international trade in chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans is currently banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Read on to learn more about the illegal animal trade’s devastating effects on great ape populations. — Global Animal

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Iran Reports Launching Monkey Into Space

January 30, 2013

(ANIMAL WELFARE) On Monday, Iran announced that the nation had successfully launched a rocket carrying a live monkey into space as a prelude to the Islamic republic’s goal of a manned mission. State media claims the monkey was launched 70 miles in an “indigenous bio-capsule,” the Kavoshgar rocket dubbed “Pishgam” (Farsi for “Pioneer”), but gave no other details except that the monkey returned safely. In a statement, animal rights group PETA said, ”Iran is repeating the wasteful and cruel mistakes that marked the darkest days of the space race. Monkeys are highly intelligent and sensitive animals who not only are traumatised by the violence and noise of a launch and landing but also suffer when caged in a laboratory before and – if they survive – after a flight.” Now, for the second time, PETA is reaching out to the head of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA), urging them to stop this cruel practice. Fortunately, the European Space Agency (ESA), which is very active in space exploration, has declined any interest in monkey research and does not consider any need or use for such results. Read the New York Times article below for more on this inhumane event. — Global Animal

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NIH Retiring 86% Of Research Chimps

January 25, 2013

(ANIMAL RESEARCH) In a move that would nearly put an end to government research on chimpanzees as soon as this March, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is proposing to retire all but 50 of the remaining 360 chimpanzees currently being used for federally funded research. The panel has recommended phasing out all current biomedical research grants involving research chimps, banning chimpanzee breeding, and retiring the chimps to sanctuaries such as Chimp Haven—the only sanctuary that receives government funding to care for government owned chimps. Read on to learn more about this victory and, while the NIH is currently accepting public comments on the matter, be sure to make your voice heard. — Global Animal

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United Airlines Bans Shipping Primates To Labs

January 11, 2013

(ANIMAL TESTING) Thanks to PETA’s vigorous year-long campaign on social media as well as in public protests, United Airlines has finally decided to ban the transport of primates to laboratories—following in the footsteps of Air Canada who also banned the shipment of primates at the end of last year. That means not a single major airline based in North America will transport primates to laboratories where they are confined and tortured for their entire lives. Read on to learn more about this tremendous victory! — Global Animal

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Air Canada Bans Shipment Of Primates

December 24, 2012

(ANIMAL TESTING) The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has finally permitted Air Canada to ban shipments of primates destined for laboratories. In its lengthy decision, the CTA points out that the airline received “over 47,000 letters from the public protesting its practice of transporting non-human primates for research purposes” and that Air Canada “cannot ignore the overwhelming volume of letters in opposition to the transport of non-human primates destined for research.” Although this is a major victory, there are still a few remaining airlines like United that are willing to ship primates to research labs. Take action and sign the petition urging airlines to stop transporting primates to laboratories. — Global Animal

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Why Chimpanzee Research Must Be Banned

December 6, 2012

(ANIMAL RESEARCH) Did you know the U.S. is the only country in the world that currently conducts invasive medical experimentation on great apes? Even though chimpanzees and humans share 98.7 percent of their DNA, supporters of chimpanzee research argue that chimpanzees are not humans and therefore do not deserve the same rights. However, chimpanzees are highly intellectual and emotive creatures, capable of suffering from PTSD and depression. Read on to learn more on why medical research on chimpanzees must be banned and take action: support the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act. — Global Animal

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