OHSU Whistleblower and Former USDA Inspector Expose Animal Abuse at Primate Center

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Portland, Ore…An Oregon Health Sciences University whistleblower unveiled graphic video footage from inside the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center at a press conference Monday. This video depicts shocking images of baby monkeys distressed and diseased, living in their own filth and adult monkeys gone mad, attacking and biting their own bodies. "These monkeys are emotionally complex individuals, but to the primate center, they are just furry test tubes."

Oregon’s former United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspector explained how the USDA is in collusion with the primate research centers to hide animal abuse from the public. "The USDA inspection system is comprised of a "good ol’ boy" network that blatantly defies federal laws which, even if they were enforced, are too ineffectual to protect the animals."

These two whistleblowers are not the only ones concerned about animals at the research laboratory. In late May, twenty-six animal technicians signed a scathing complaint to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of the laboratory. Copies of the complaint were made available.

Primate veterinarian Dr. Sheri Speede hosted the conference on behalf of In Defense of Animals (IDA). Some of IDA's demands that were articulated during the news conference included:

• That OHSU/ORPRC be opened to the public for immediate and continuing oversight and direct accountability.
• That monkeys from two chronic experiments be released to a sanctuary.
• That there be a reallocation of public funds to non-animal model based research methods.

BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO FOOTAGE AND PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.VIVISECTIONINFO.ORG/OHSU

Vivisection Info: IDA's Vivisection Campaign Site