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Articles and
Reports Primate Care at the University of South Alabama
The health and well-being of primates at the University of South
Alabama (USA) has been examined utilizing post mortem records for 98
monkeys who died at USA during 2003 – 2004. The fiscal 2004 report filed
by USA with the United States Department of Agriculture listed 728
primates used in experimentation and another 75 used for breeding or
conditioning. These are either squirrel monkeys or owl monkeys. USA
receives just over $1.5 million from the National Institutes of Health
for all primate projects. The records of the approximately 100 primates who died were mainly
infant animals. These 74 immature monkeys died of everything from
failure to thrive to skull fractures. For a facility that has breeding
of monkeys as one of the primary purposes, this appears to be an
excessively high infant mortality rate. The rate of stillbirths is high,
and neonatal jaundice occurs often. Additionally, the level of abuse
practiced upon these infants by their parents is sufficient to make us
doubt their sanity. One infant, #3814, has had his hair plucked. His
tail has also been traumatized. The remaining primate records were for adult animals. These documents
suggest many different pathologies. However, the most significant of
these appear to be mental. From a practical point of view one area that
must be looked at initially is anesthetic deaths. There were two primate
deaths that involved anesthesia, or a similar circumstance. One of these
animals died of aspiration pneumonia; from inhaling his/her own vomit.
These instances suggest at least inattention, or at worst downright
negligence. 6 of the adult deaths were marked by inanition, or extreme
lack of body fat. This condition can indicate either long-term untreated
illness, or severe stress. Ten of the USA primates exhibited substantial
hair loss, the result of over grooming which is also considered to be
the result of stress, or stereotypical behavior. This is usually
associated with mental pathology and is often followed by more severe
acts, such as self-injurious behavior. Other serious issues at USA involve 8 instances of trauma, either
self-induced or caused by cage mates. In either case, this behavior is
also associated with stress. Several monkeys have a history of
self-inflicted tail trauma. These animals have begun to attack their own
bodies. Several other primates at USA have had digits amputated, due to
self-inflicted injuries. However, the most shocking of all the cases is primate 2685 who died
on 12-10-04. She had developed an intussusception of the intestinal
tract. This condition occurs when one part of the intestines slide up
into another part, telescoping. The pain that this animal experienced
must have been excruciating. She began to attack her own body, out of
mental illness, to the point that she cannibalized her own intestinal
tract. Other causes of death show up in the USA primates including: gastric
bloat (which is related to improper feeding) chronic anemia, chronic
diarrhea, etc. In one instance the bloat led to gastric torsion which
was left unmanaged until the intestinal tract became necrotic. However,
the records for these animals never discuss treatment of any kind. When
a condition reaches a chronic level the solution appears to be to put
the animal to death. The overall situation at USA is grim. It is quite apparent that the
squirrel monkeys within this laboratory suffer for many reasons.
Veterinary care appears to consist largely of euthanasia. Environmental
enhancement, which is required by law, must be essentially non-existent,
leading to widespread madness. Neglect, lack of observation, and
inadequate care are clearly the norm. This facility houses over 800 primates per year and receives just
over $1.5 million in federal grants for primate experimentation.
Considering what USA primate records reveal we must begin to wonder how
this money is being spent. Additionally, since one of these projects has
to do with the immune system, this project is clearly being performed
utilizing primates who are so ridiculously stressed that their immune
systems are simply wrecked even before any experiments begin. It is
clear that this research is useless due to the drastic effects of the
severe stress to which these primates have been subjected. Also, even if
these animals were shipped to other laboratories for use in different
projects their physiology is likely so distressed (along with their
minds) that they are useless as research subjects potentially rendering
many other research projects meaningless. Our investigations of this facility will continue. In the near future
we will be submitting requests for even more detailed records to allow
for a truly in-depth assessment of the conditions within this facility.
We would also like to use this occasion to call upon President Gordon
Moulton to institute an independent investigation of primate facilities
at the University of South Alabama. The veterinary care systems of this
facility are in need of major restructuring and staff changes may be in
order. We would also like to publicly ask for access to USA primate
laboratories to allow for personal inspection of the animals and
facilities. We believe that the people of Alabama and the U.S. as a
whole deserve to know how their money is being spent. We have a right to
ask for accountability and access. This is a public entity that should
stand for openness and honesty. National Institutes of Health Funded Primate Grants at
the University of South Alabama
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