U.S. Department of Health & Human Services      Search the NIH Website
          Virtual Tour
          Staff Directory
          En Español Site Menu Home
			
			Health Information
				Health Care Providers & Facilities
							Health Info Lines
							HealthCare.gov
							Science Education Resources
							NIH Clinical Research Trials and You
							Talking to Your DoctorMore »
					Search Health Topics
						Quick Links
						MedlinePlus Health Info
							NIH News in Health
							Wellness Toolkits
			
			Grants & Funding
				Grants Home Page
							Find Funding
							Due Dates
							How to Apply
							About Grants
							Policy & Compliance
							Grants News/Blog
							Contracts
							Loan RepaymentMore »
					Quick Links
						RePORT
							eRA Commons
							NIH Common Fund
			
			News & Events
				News Releases
							Digital Media Kits
							Media Resources
							Media Contacts
							Images and B-roll
							Events
							Social MediaMore »
					Quick Links
						NIH News in Health
							NIH Research Matters
							NIH Record
			
			Research & Training
				Medical Research Initiatives
							Science Highlights
							Science Education
							Research in NIH Labs & Clinics
							Training Opportunities
							Library Resources
							Research Resources
							Clinical Research Resources
							Safety, Regulation and GuidanceMore »
					Quick Links
						PubMed
							Stem Cell Information
							OppNet
							NIDB
							NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research
			
			Institutes at NIH
				List of Institutes and Centers
							NIH Office of the Director
							Directors of NIH Institutes and Centers
							NIH Institute and Center Contact InformationMore »
					Quick Links
						NCI
              	NEI
              	NHLBI
              	NHGRI
              	NIA
              	NIAAA
              	NIAID
              	NIAMS
              	NIBIB
              	NICHD
              	NIDCD
              	NIDCR
              	NIDDK
              	NIDA
              	NIEHS
              	NIGMS
              	NIMH
              	NIMHD
              	NINDS
              	NINR
              	NLM
              	CC
              	CIT
              	CSR
              	FIC
              	NCATS
              	NCCIH
			
			About NIH
				Who We Are
							What We Do
							Jobs at NIH
							Visitor Information
							Frequently Asked Questions
							Contact UsMore »
					Quick Links
						The NIH Director
							Take the Virtual Tour
							NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health®
							Impact of NIH Research
							Science, Health, and Public Trust
 You are here Home News & Events
 News & Events
 News & Events
    
  News Releases
Digital Media Kits
NIH on Social Media
Media Resources
Media Contacts
Images and B-roll
Events
NIH News Publications
Office of Communications and Public Liaison Chimpanzees in Research – Digital Media Kit In this kit: NIH Decision Relocation Process Timeline B-Roll
 NIH Decision In 2015, NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins announced that NIH would no longer support biomedical research on chimpanzees.  In support of that decision, NIH developed a plan for retiring the NIH-owned and -supported chimpanzees at three primate facilities to the federal sanctuary operated by Chimp Haven, Inc., in Keithville, Louisiana.  The plan was developed in accordance with the amended Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance and Protection Act (CHIMP Act). NIH owns or supports chimpanzees at Chimp Haven, and at three primate facilities: Alamogordo Primate Facility (Chimpanzee Reserve), New Mexico; Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, Bastrop, Texas; and Southwest National Primate Research Center, San Antonio.  Chimpanzees are relocated from the primate facilities to the sanctuary as space at the sanctuary allows and on a timescale that allows for optimal transition of each individual chimpanzee with careful consideration to their welfare, including their health and social grouping. NIH conducts an annual census of the chimpanzees it owns or supports after the end of each fiscal year (October 1-September 30) to provide official figures on their numbers and cost of care. Breeding of NIH chimpanzees ended in 1995 and the total number of chimpanzees decreases annually as a result of normal mortality of this aging population. Relocation Process Relocation and resocialization are recognized as major stress-inducers in chimpanzees and can potentially affect animal health and well-being, especially in geriatric animals with multiple co-morbidities and chronic conditions. Approximately half of the NIH chimpanzees are considered geriatric. Chronic disorders may include diabetes, hypertension and other cardiovascular disorders, hepatic and renal disorders, and geriatric status. These health conditions affect the anticipated likelihood of surviving the physical transfer process and may create additional risks during formation of new social groups and adapting to a new environment. The process of preparing animals for transfer, the transfer itself, and the process of introducing animals to a new environment including new social groups are all critical factors to consider in ensuring the welfare of these animals as they are relocated to the federal sanctuary. As part of the transfer process, chimpanzees are medically evaluated by veterinarians with expertise in the care of chimpanzees to determine an animal’s health status and their ability to withstand a move. Anticipating that some chimpanzees may not be able to move for health reasons, the three primate facilities and Chimp Haven worked together to develop standard criteria to evaluate and compare the health of the chimpanzees at their locations. If the attending veterinarian at a primate facility determines that a chimpanzee is unable to move due to health risks, the chimpanzee(s) are evaluated by a panel of NIH veterinarians independent of the three primate facilities, Chimp Haven, and the NIH Chimpanzee Program.  The Panel uses a defined protocol to evaluate the chimpanzees and provides their assessment to the NIH Deputy Director for Program, Coordination, Planning and Strategic Coordination, who oversees the Chimpanzee Management Program, on whether the chimpanzee(s) should remain in place or relocate to Chimp Haven. Timeline **September 2021:**NIH announces it does not anticipate relocating at-risk chimpanzees at the Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research to the Federal sanctuary. **November 2020:**NIH issues a guide notice on a statement by the director of the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare on oversight of NIH-owned Chimpanzees. **October 2019:**NIH announces it does not anticipate relocating at-risk chimpanzees at the Alamogordo Primate Facility to the Federal sanctuary. **February 2019:**NIH publishes a standardized chimpanzee health categorization framework to inform relocation decisions of at-risk chimpanzees. **October 2018:**NIH announces its decisions on relocating at-risk chimpanzees. **May 2018:**Council of Councils provides recommendations on factors to be considered by veterinary staff when deciding to relocate at-risk NIH-owned and -supported chimpanzees to the Federal sanctuary. **February 2018:**NIH charges a working group of the Council of Councils to assess the safety of relocating at-risk chimpanzees. **August 2016:** NIH develops plan to retire NIH-owned and -supported chimpanzees **November 2015:** NIH announces it will no longer support biomedical research using chimpanzees **June 2015:  U**.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalizes rule listing all chimpanzees as endangered under the endangered species act **June 2013:**NIH announces it will significantly reduce the use of chimpanzees in research **January 2013**:  NIH Council of Councils present recommendations for how to implement the NAS recommendations. **December 2011:** NIH Director accepts National Academy of Sciences recommendations and charges a working group of the Council of Councils to make recommendation on how to implement them. **December 2011:** The National Academies (then the Institute of Medicine) 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 2010:** NIH Director commissioned a study by the Institute of Medicine to determine the continued scientific need for chimpanzees in NIH-funded research. B-Roll Video of NIH Chimpanzees at the Alamogordo Primate Facility, New Mexico
 B-roll of the Alamogordo Primate Facility, New Mexico. For complete file, contact Wally Akinso.
 This page last reviewed on September 29, 2021
 Connect with Us Contact Us
      X
      Facebook
      Instagram
      YouTube
      Flickr
      More Social Media from NIH
 Footer
    NIH Home
      Virtual Tour
      En Español
      Visitor Information
      Frequently Asked Questions
      Privacy Policy
      Disclaimers
      Accessibility
      NIH Website ArchivesNondiscrimination Notice
      Freedom of Information Act
      No Fear Act
      HHS Vulnerability Disclosure
      Office of Inspector General
      USA.govNIH...Turning Discovery Into Health®
    National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
 Back to Top