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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Contact: Michael Budkie, SAEN, 513-575-5517 513-703-9865 (cell)

Harvard Announces Closure of Primate Research Center; Watchdog Group Applauds Move; Calls for Retirement of Primates

BOSTON/SOUTHBOROUGH, MA – Harvard Medical School has issued a statement announcing that the New England Primate Research Center will be closing within 24 months.

Harvard’s New England Primate Research Center has been embroiled in an ongoing controversy following the negligent deaths of at least 4 primates.  The facility is currently under investigation by the USDA and faces a potentially major federal fine for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

“Harvard wants the public to believe that this closure is due to economics,” said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director, SAEN (Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!).  “That is simply not true.  The only way Harvard could quash this scandal is to close the primate center, because even last year’s resignation of the Center’s Director could not end their ineptitude.  This closure is the direct result of pressure from activists led by SAEN.”

"The closure of Harvard’s Primate Research Center is the best news I have ever heard,” added Budkie.  “The potential exists to bring freedom to many monkeys and to redirect millions of dollars into clinical and epidemiological research which will more directly benefit humans.”

SAEN has announced plans to contact the Harvard Medical School’s administration to explore the possibility of placing at least some of the primates in sanctuaries. 

“These primates have suffered enough,” added Budkie.  “They deserve a chance to have a new life in another environment where their needs will be put first.”

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See also:

• Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
• Click to wach SAEN's anti-Harvard TV commercial
  
• Harvard Med School Cited for Being Generally Neglectful of Its Lab Animals 4 Sep 2012
• Animal Cruelty Found at Harvard Labs: Monkeys, Mice Die, Thanks to Inhumane, Careless Treatment 4 Sep 2012
• Harvard Medical School is cited for mistreatment of lab animals 3 Sep 2012
• Harvard Dead Monkeys Make Top 10 List for Lab Violations 30 Aug 2012
• USDA Cites Harvard Center for Violating Federal Law 4 Apr 2012
• Research monkey deaths spark protests 26 Mar 2012
• Monkey deaths ignite protest at Harvard center in Southboro 26 Mar 2012
• Animal activist group files complaint against Primate Center 21 Mar 2012
• Animal activist alleges another incident at primate center 21 Mar 2012
• Fifth monkey death at Southboro research center to be investigated 21 Mar 2012
• Head of troubled Harvard primate center steps down 2 Mar 2012
• New research halted after another monkey death at primate center in Southboro 1 Mar 2012
• Harvard vows changes after 4th monkey death 29 Feb 2012
• Southborough primate research center may face fines 28 Feb 2012
• Third monkey dies at Harvard research center 27 Feb 2012
• Confronting Cruelty: Harvard should not tolerate unnecessary cruelty in its labs 26 Jan 2012
• Activists protest near Southborough primate research center 24 Jan 2012
• Spell out ethical standards 23 Jan 2012
• Nine Animals Died in Harvard-Affiliated Laboratories 23 Jan 2012
• Third Monkey Death at Harvard Sparks Federal Probe of Lab Work 22 Jan 2012
• Harvard Medical School under fire for animal testing death 11 Jan 2012
• Southborough primate facility cited again for animal's death 11 Jan 2012
• USDA cites Harvard med school primate center in Southboro 11 Jan 2012
• Harvard's New England Primate Research Center cited for animal death 10 Jan 2012
• Yale’s Burned Baboons, Harvard’s Dead Goat Make Ivy League Lab Abuse List - 6 Dec 2011
• U.S. Investigation Faults HMS Animal Research Facility - 31 Aug 2011
• USDA cites Harvard research facility - 17 Aug 2011
• Southborough primate center under investigation for unapproved procedures - 18 Aug 2011
• USDA cites primate center - 16 Aug 2011
• Group files complaint vs. Southborough animal research lab - 20 Oct 2010
• Dead monkey raises alarms Primate lab gets USDA citation - 4 Aug 2010
• Feds may probe Southborough primate center after animal's death - 3 Aug 2010

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