| Date opened | April 2005 |
|---|---|
| Location | Keithville, Louisiana United States |
| Land area | 2 hectares (4.9 acres) |
| Number of animals | >100 |
| Number of species | 4 recognised: troglodytes verus troglodytes troglodytes troglodytes schweinfurthii troglodytes vellerosus |
| Memberships | Association for the Assessment and Accreditation for Laboratory Animal Care, International. |
| Website | chimphaven.org |
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 acres) sanctuary is located in the Eddie D. Jones Nature Park in Keithville, Louisiana, approximately 22 miles southwest of Shreveport.
Contents |
Chimpanzees have been utilized in the exploration of space 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 zoos, 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.[1] 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.[2] 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.
The land for the National Chimpanzee Sanctuary was donated to the Chimp Haven organization by Caddo Parish, Louisiana.[3] After several years construction, Chimp Haven accepted its first individuals, Rita and Theresa, in April 2005, both formerly remployed in NASA space programs.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] 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