The University of
Washington (UW) houses the Washington National Primate Research Center (WNPRC)
which raked in over $260 million to imprison 1186 primates in 2005.
Internal UW post-mortem records for 135 primates that died during a
seventeen month period spanning 2005 and 2006 reveal the real
consequences of primate experimentation – inadequate veterinary care,
psychologically abnormal behavior, and serious side effects from highly
invasive procedures.
Rates of conditions derived from
post-mortems:
30% gastro-intestinal tract disease
10.4% hair loss from over grooming
29% of the animals who died ranged from thin to severely emaciated
which indicates long-term disease
30% of these animals suffered from colitis, often severe and
ulcerative
18% suffered from enteritis
17% from gastritis
15% died from either meningitis or encephalitis
Most of these conditions are indicators of severe stress
in primates. Many primates at this facility have also lost fingers from
either fighting or self-abuse, which underscores the high level of
stress.
Primate Z99081, who was assigned to brain
research, was simply found dead from suppurative encephalitis, with no
mention of previous treatment or veterinary care.
Primate
04090, also used in neurological research, had a “head cap” and a spinal
implant, as well as wires run under the skin of the arm to connect to
muscles. The animal had developed paralysis of the arm and compression
of the spinal column, again directly related to the type of
experimentation in which this animal suffered.
Primate
A03068 had a severely deteriorated leg, which lost 40–50% of the muscle
mass. The left hip joint had broken down sufficiently to have developed
a flat head. This condition was not reached overnight and also showed no
evidence of treatment.
Primate 91386 was found to have a
mass of connective tissue, which contained a piece of surgical gauze
that had been lost during surgery.
Primate 02049 died of
sepsis (massive bacterial infection).
The most shocking case of all is primate A01136. A01136’s cause of death
was never determined, because the researcher (Dr. Albert Fuchs) had cut
off the monkey’s head and refused to allow the UW veterinary staff to
examine it, despite a specific request for this vitally important piece
of anatomy.
SAEN exposed these
heinous abuses to Seattle news media in a dramatic news conference on
October 13th, where we announced the filing of an official complaint
with the USDA. We have recently learned that our complaint has resulted
in USDA citations for the UW and a reprimand for Dr. Fuchs.
