Primarily Primates
Encyclopedia
Primarily Primates is a non-profit organization in Bexar County, Texas
, that operates an animal sanctuary, housing 600 non-human primates and a variety of other animals retired from use in Entertainment, Research or as rescues from the Exotic Pet Trade. The organization was founded by Wallace (Wally) Swett in 1978, who ran the facility until 2006, when the Texas attorney general took control of it after allegations that the facility was an unfit place for animals. It has since been passed to new management.
, chimpanzees retired from the United States Air Force
(mostly Holloman Air Force Base
) and the NASA
space program, and Oliver
, a chimpanzee exhibited around the world for many years and often referred to as the "humanzee
," because of speculation in the past that he might be part human. Other notable chimps now living there include Willie and Harry who appeared in the film, Project X. Willie played Virgil the chimp, who was taught to pilot planes.
The Texas attorney general took control of the sanctuary in October 2006 after allegations that the facility was "unfit," and that public donations had been misspent while the animals lived in substandard accommodation. An Austin probate court put the sanctuary into temporary receivership
and appointed a primate expert, Lee Theisen-Watt, to evaluate the animals' condition and supervise their care. The attorney general asked the court permanently to remove Wally Swett and his associates, and require them to repay some of the funds that were allegedly misspent. In April 2007, a settlement was reached appointing a new board of directors, which the Chicago Tribune writes, includes associates of the previous operators, such as Priscilla Feral, president of Friends of Animals
, a Connecticut-based animal-rights group that funded Swett's defense, and Stephen Tello, Swett's former deputy. A spokesman for the attorney-general's office said in a statement that "[t]he troubling conditions at Primarily Primates have been remedied."
(PETA), which filed a lawsuit against Primarily Primates in March 2006.
The courts dismissed the lawsuit, but the controversy continued. Both sides made serious allegations against the other, with PETA maintaining a highly critical website called Primarily Primates: Hell On Earth For Animals.
The Texas attorney general
's office ordered the takeover of the sanctuary on Friday, October 13, 2006, and the appointment of a temporary receiver. Lee Theisen-Watt, a primatologist, was placed in charge of the sanctuary. Citing inadequate conditions, she began relocating animals. Employees of PPI expressed concern that animals would be needlessly killed for treatable illnesses, and questioned many of Theisen-Watt's decisions.
In May 2007, Texas courts handed management of the facility to Friends of Animals
, with a new board of directors headed by Stephen Tello, who had previously been involved in running the facility for 20 years. In addition to Tello, the new board consists of Priscilla Feral of Friends of Animals
, which funded Wally Swett's legal defense; and Lou Griffin, a veterinarian with laboratory experience of non-human primates. A primate veterinarian, Dr. Michele Martino, also joined the board, but resigned soon after. In a press release, Feral stated: "My promise to donors, advocates, and the public is that this sanctuary will be tidy, well-run, communicative, and a place advocates can be proud to support."
A spokesman for the Texas attorney general's office, Tom Kelley, said: "The troubling conditions at Primarily Primates have been remedied." He confirmed that Wally Swett will be permanently barred from the facility as part of the settlement.
Bexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
, that operates an animal sanctuary, housing 600 non-human primates and a variety of other animals retired from use in Entertainment, Research or as rescues from the Exotic Pet Trade. The organization was founded by Wallace (Wally) Swett in 1978, who ran the facility until 2006, when the Texas attorney general took control of it after allegations that the facility was an unfit place for animals. It has since been passed to new management.
Background
Animals at the shelter include primates formerly used in animal researchAnimal testing
Animal testing, also known as animal experimentation, animal research, and in vivo testing, is the use of non-human animals in experiments. Worldwide it is estimated that the number of vertebrate animals—from zebrafish to non-human primates—ranges from the tens of millions to more than 100 million...
, chimpanzees retired from the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
(mostly Holloman Air Force Base
Holloman Air Force Base
Holloman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located six miles southwest of the central business district of Alamogordo, a city in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. The base was named in honor of Col. George V. Holloman, a pioneer in guided missile research...
) and the 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 program, and Oliver
Oliver (chimpanzee)
Oliver is a Common Chimpanzee and a former performing ape once promoted as a missing link or "Humanzee" due to his unusually human-like face and a tendency to walk upright...
, a chimpanzee exhibited around the world for many years and often referred to as the "humanzee
Humanzee
The humanzee is a hypothetical chimpanzee/human hybrid. Chimpanzees and humans are closely related , leading to contested speculation that a hybrid is possible, though no specimen has ever been confirmed.-Etymology:In spite of the usual convention of portmanteau...
," because of speculation in the past that he might be part human. Other notable chimps now living there include Willie and Harry who appeared in the film, Project X. Willie played Virgil the chimp, who was taught to pilot planes.
The Texas attorney general took control of the sanctuary in October 2006 after allegations that the facility was "unfit," and that public donations had been misspent while the animals lived in substandard accommodation. An Austin probate court put the sanctuary into temporary receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
and appointed a primate expert, Lee Theisen-Watt, to evaluate the animals' condition and supervise their care. The attorney general asked the court permanently to remove Wally Swett and his associates, and require them to repay some of the funds that were allegedly misspent. In April 2007, a settlement was reached appointing a new board of directors, which the Chicago Tribune writes, includes associates of the previous operators, such as Priscilla Feral, president of Friends of Animals
Friends of Animals
Friends of Animals is an animal rights group based in Darien, Connecticut in the United States. It was founded by Alice Herrington in 1957 in Manhattan, New York, with an aim of reducing the number of stray cats and dogs by offering low cost spay and neutering, and went on to expand its activities...
, a Connecticut-based animal-rights group that funded Swett's defense, and Stephen Tello, Swett's former deputy. A spokesman for the attorney-general's office said in a statement that "[t]he troubling conditions at Primarily Primates have been remedied."
Temporary receivership
The controversy began when a former employee of the sanctuary took undercover footage showing sick animals and primates confined in small cages. The material was handed to People for the Ethical Treatment of AnimalsPeople for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. A non-profit corporation with 300 employees and two million members and supporters, it claims to be the largest animal rights...
(PETA), which filed a lawsuit against Primarily Primates in March 2006.
The courts dismissed the lawsuit, but the controversy continued. Both sides made serious allegations against the other, with PETA maintaining a highly critical website called Primarily Primates: Hell On Earth For Animals.
The Texas attorney general
State Attorney General
The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states and territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. In some states, the attorney general serves as the head of a state department of justice, with responsibilities similar to those...
's office ordered the takeover of the sanctuary on Friday, October 13, 2006, and the appointment of a temporary receiver. Lee Theisen-Watt, a primatologist, was placed in charge of the sanctuary. Citing inadequate conditions, she began relocating animals. Employees of PPI expressed concern that animals would be needlessly killed for treatable illnesses, and questioned many of Theisen-Watt's decisions.
New management
On May 1, 2007, the temporary receivership ended and a new management team arrived. Upon their arrival, they videotaped the conditions they found at the sanctuary as it was left by Theisen-Watt, and published the footage on PPI's updated website. Chimp Haven, a sanctuary to which a number of chimps were relocated during the receivership, chose not to return the chimps to PPI.Settlement
On April 27, 2007, the state of Texas entered into a settlement agreement which removed Lee Theisen-Watt as overseer of Primarily Primates and replaced her with a board of directors that is headed by Eric Turton and Priscilla Feral. The settlement also dismissed all charges against Primarily Primates. Swett was required to leave the property and is prohibited from serving either on the board or as an employee.In May 2007, Texas courts handed management of the facility to Friends of Animals
Friends of Animals
Friends of Animals is an animal rights group based in Darien, Connecticut in the United States. It was founded by Alice Herrington in 1957 in Manhattan, New York, with an aim of reducing the number of stray cats and dogs by offering low cost spay and neutering, and went on to expand its activities...
, with a new board of directors headed by Stephen Tello, who had previously been involved in running the facility for 20 years. In addition to Tello, the new board consists of Priscilla Feral of Friends of Animals
Friends of Animals
Friends of Animals is an animal rights group based in Darien, Connecticut in the United States. It was founded by Alice Herrington in 1957 in Manhattan, New York, with an aim of reducing the number of stray cats and dogs by offering low cost spay and neutering, and went on to expand its activities...
, which funded Wally Swett's legal defense; and Lou Griffin, a veterinarian with laboratory experience of non-human primates. A primate veterinarian, Dr. Michele Martino, also joined the board, but resigned soon after. In a press release, Feral stated: "My promise to donors, advocates, and the public is that this sanctuary will be tidy, well-run, communicative, and a place advocates can be proud to support."
A spokesman for the Texas attorney general's office, Tom Kelley, said: "The troubling conditions at Primarily Primates have been remedied." He confirmed that Wally Swett will be permanently barred from the facility as part of the settlement.
External links
- Primarily Primates website
- Article on Air Force Chimps
- Widner, Cindy. "A Better Place", The Austin ChronicleAustin ChronicleThe Austin Chronicle is an alternative weekly, tabloid-style newspaper published every Thursday in Austin, Texas, United States. The paper is distributed through free news-stands, often at local eateries or coffee houses frequented by its targeted demographic...
, August 5, 2005.