Home Page
About SAEN
Articles and Reports
Contact Us
Events and Campaigns
Fact Sheets
Financial Information
How You Can Help
Make a Donation, Please!
Media Coverage
Newsletters
Petitions
Picture Archive
Press Releases
Resources and Links
Grass Roots Org. List

Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!
S. A. E. N.
"Exposing the truth to wipe out animal experimentation"

Articles and Reports

Primate Experimentation in the US: The Facts We Weren’t Supposed to Know
By Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T.
513-575-5517 saen@saenonline.org  

Johns Hopkins University

In August of 2000 Johns Hopkins is cited for primate cages that are too small. Environmental enhancement is minimal and may consist of only a kong toy. Primates do not even have perches in their cages. Primates who suffered and died during the period for the previous year’s report were fraudulently reported as not having suffered.

USDA reports from inspections on 6/24/02 reveal violations in many areas. The IACUC is cited for inadequate justification of the use of baboons and squirrel monkeys in drug studies. Environmental enhancement is also an issue at this facility because “Over half of the nonhuman primates are singly housed. . . . A baboon was housed alone with no other nonhuman primate contact and minimum enrichment at Asthma and Allergy. The baboon was acting distressed, pacing in circles.”

Six primates are housed in cages that are insufficient in size. Many primate cages do not have perches, the enrichment plan is minimal with treats merely scattered on the floor of the cages. The documented enrichment plan has not been updated since 1994.

During 1999 Riki, a rhesus monkey, died at Johns Hopkins University. This primate had received treatment for ulcers in 1996. During 1999 Riki was found to be biting his/her stifles (area near the knee), a form of self-mutilation. On 8/27/99 Riki was found lying on his/her side at noon. Examinations showed that Riki was in shock. The only treatment given was intravenous fluids. A government report states: “The primate was allowed to suffer and die, instead of being immediately humanely euthanized when the decision was made not to administer further treatment.”

Also at Johns Hopkins -- Primate 58L, a marmoset, had surgery on 7/11/00 to place a head implant. On the day after surgery 58L was found shivering on a heating pad that had been turned off.

Go on to:  Emory University
See Facility Reports for Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Return to Articles and Reports
Return to Primate Experimentation in the US: The Facts We Weren’t Supposed to Know