Chimp Haven, The National Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Encyclopedia
Chimp Haven, the National Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a species-specific facility designed to provide a home for chimpanzee
that offers an environment that stimulates behaviors similar to those in the wild. Initial residents will be individuals former medical research subjects with future plans to include those from the entertainment industry and pets
. The sanctuary opened in April 2005 and currently now houses more than 100 individuals in forested habitats. The 2 hectares (4.9 acre) sanctuary is located in the Eddie D. Jones Nature Park in Keithville, Louisiana
, approximately 22 miles southwest of Shreveport
.
and the advancement of medicine
. However advancing technology
meant that fewer chimpanzees are now needed in these fields, and many that were bred to be used as such are no longer needed. There were too many to be taken in by zoo
s, so in 1995 the Chimp Haven organisation was founded, with the aim of providing sanctuary to the increasing number of chimpanzees no longer needed for their original role.
In 1997, a report by the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) into the management of chimpanzees used for medical research concluded that long-term care facilities were the best and most cost-effective solution for chimpanzees no longer needed in medical research. In 2000 the Chimpanzee Health, Improvement, Maintenance & Protection (C.H.I.M.P.) Act was passed giving support for chimpanzee sanctuaries such as Chimp Haven. The Act stated that funding was to come partly from the NIH and partly from private donations.
In 2002, as provided under the CHIMP Act, the NIH selected Chimp Haven to build and operate the national chimpanzee sanctuary system. Although the NIH underwrote a portion of the sanctuary’s construction and operating costs, Chimp Haven was required to raise matching funds, as well as carry the full responsibility for education
and outreach programs. The latter is extremely important, as wildlife
and conservation
education are incumbent upon any animal stewardship organization, including sanctuaries.
. After several years construction, Chimp Haven accepted its first individuals, Rita and Theresa, in April 2005, both formerly remployed in NASA
space programs. They were soon followed by dozens of others from several large research
facilities.
Education is seen as the most important aspect of Chimp Haven. In 2005 the Chimpanzee Trails project was started, allowing the public to access certain areas of the sanctuary and learn about the chimpanzees. Open days are held once a month so the public can see the chimpanzees at large in their habitats. Veterinary students
also frequently visit the facility to learn how to care for chimpanzees.
As part of the original CHIMP act, chimpanzee breeding
was put on hold for a period of five years. In 2005 the National Institutes of Health converted this into a permanent ban on breeding chimpanzees for any kind of research in the United States. This will hopefully ensure that sanctuaries such as Chimp Haven will be less needed in the future, however the work they do in looking after rescued chimpanzees (for which they receive no government
funding) and in educating the public will continue to be important.
Chimp Haven at the Ursa International website includes images, maps, design plans
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
that offers an environment that stimulates behaviors similar to those in the wild. Initial residents will be individuals former medical research subjects with future plans to include those from the entertainment industry and pets
PETS
PETS may be an acronym for:* Pet Travel Scheme, which allows animals to travel internationally without quarantine* Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act...
. The sanctuary opened in April 2005 and currently now houses more than 100 individuals in forested habitats. The 2 hectares (4.9 acre) sanctuary is located in the Eddie D. Jones Nature Park in Keithville, Louisiana
Keithville, Louisiana
Keithville is an unincorporated community in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies to the south of Shreveport along U.S. Route 171. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 71047. Along with a large elementary and middle school, Keithville has several...
, approximately 22 miles southwest of Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
.
History
Chimpanzees have been utilized in the exploration of spaceOuter space
Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
and the advancement of medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
. However advancing technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
meant that fewer chimpanzees are now needed in these fields, and many that were bred to be used as such are no longer needed. There were too many to be taken in by zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
s, so in 1995 the Chimp Haven organisation was founded, with the aim of providing sanctuary to the increasing number of chimpanzees no longer needed for their original role.
In 1997, a report by the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
(NIH) into the management of chimpanzees used for medical research concluded that long-term care facilities were the best and most cost-effective solution for chimpanzees no longer needed in medical research. In 2000 the Chimpanzee Health, Improvement, Maintenance & Protection (C.H.I.M.P.) Act was passed giving support for chimpanzee sanctuaries such as Chimp Haven. The Act stated that funding was to come partly from the NIH and partly from private donations.
In 2002, as provided under the CHIMP Act, the NIH selected Chimp Haven to build and operate the national chimpanzee sanctuary system. Although the NIH underwrote a portion of the sanctuary’s construction and operating costs, Chimp Haven was required to raise matching funds, as well as carry the full responsibility for education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and outreach programs. The latter is extremely important, as wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
and conservation
Conservation ethic
Conservation is an ethic of resource use, allocation, and protection. Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its, fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Secondary focus is on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to...
education are incumbent upon any animal stewardship organization, including sanctuaries.
Present day
The land for the National Chimpanzee Sanctuary was donated to the Chimp Haven organization by Caddo Parish, LouisianaCaddo Parish, Louisiana
Caddo Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Shreveport; as of 2000, the population was 252,161...
. After several years construction, Chimp Haven accepted its first individuals, Rita and Theresa, in April 2005, both formerly remployed in NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
space programs. They were soon followed by dozens of others from several large research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
facilities.
Education is seen as the most important aspect of Chimp Haven. In 2005 the Chimpanzee Trails project was started, allowing the public to access certain areas of the sanctuary and learn about the chimpanzees. Open days are held once a month so the public can see the chimpanzees at large in their habitats. Veterinary students
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
also frequently visit the facility to learn how to care for chimpanzees.
As part of the original CHIMP act, chimpanzee breeding
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
was put on hold for a period of five years. In 2005 the National Institutes of Health converted this into a permanent ban on breeding chimpanzees for any kind of research in the United States. This will hopefully ensure that sanctuaries such as Chimp Haven will be less needed in the future, however the work they do in looking after rescued chimpanzees (for which they receive no government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
funding) and in educating the public will continue to be important.
External links
Chimp Haven at the Ursa International website includes images, maps, design plans