Alamogordo, NM- Another chimpanzee has died at The Coulston Foundation (TCF) after allegedly being left sick for days without receiving veterinary care, In Defense of Animals (IDA) announced today. The ten-year old chimpanzee named Ray was the eighth known chimpanzee to die at TCF over the last year, and the 34th since TCF's incorporation in 1993.

Ray was one of 288 TCF chimpanzees whom the National Institutes of Health recently "took title to." NIH left these chimpanzees in TCF's "care," however, an act that IDA characterized as "criminally negligent." IDA charged that NIH was directly responsible for this most recent death, and called for an immediate federal shutdown of this failing primate testing lab.

"Once again, a young chimpanzee is dead at The Coulston Foundation, apparently because of overwhelming negligence," stated IDA Program Director Suzanne Roy. "IDA is demanding that the NIH immediately terminate all of TCF's federal financial support, which is clearly illegal given the lab's record of chronically violating federal law."

"Further, the NIH must work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to immediately shut down The Coulston Foundation and provide funding for a new management team to take full responsibility for care of the more than 600 chimpanzees and 300 monkeys confined there," Roy continued. "How many more chimpanzees have to die before NIH takes this necessary, final action?"

According to IDA sources, within the past month, TCF caretakers and/or technicians noticed that Ray was exhibiting clear clinical signs of serious illness, but the lab allegedly failed to treat him or even to provide diagnostic tests to determine what was wrong with him. Ray died a few days later from an ailment possibly related to peritonitis, a condition that causes acute pain akin to what a human with appendicitis would suffer. Chimpanzee veterinarians consulted by IDA were unanimously appalled by TCF's alleged failure to treat Ray, who was apparently ailing for days. These professionals stated that a chimpanzee exhibiting such clear signs of illness requires immediate treatment.

The latest tragedy comes at a time when the lab is already under investigation for other chimpanzee deaths, including that of Donna, who died from a massive infection and uterine rupture after carrying a large, dead fetus for up to two months. In a sworn affidavit dated June 22, 2000, USDA Western Regional Director Dr. Robert Gibbens stated that his agency "anticipates" filing a formal complaint against TCF because of violations uncovered during the course of its latest investigation. If filed, it would be the fourth time that the USDA has formally charged TCF for multiple, repeated violations of the Animal Welfare Act, an abysmal record that is the worst of any U.S. research lab in history.

This week, the NIH will be holding a closed meeting (Thursday, September 14, 8:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M., Hyatt Regency, Bethesda, MD) to review bids to take over care of the surviving 287 chimpanzees whom the agency "owns" at TCF. According to sources, TCF submitted a bid to continue caring for the chimpanzees. IDA charged that TCF's record should permanently disqualify it from competing in this, or any, federal bid process.

IDA's Coulston Campaign