AR-News: Coulston Closure 1 Year Anniversary

[eklei at earthlink.net]

In Defense of Animals, Mill Valley, CA  94941
Animal Protection of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM  87192

For Immediate Release

Contacts:	Eric Kleiman, IDA, 717-939-3231
		Danielle Bays, APNM, 505-954-4262

ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF COULSTON FOUNDATION CLOSURE AND LIBERATION OF
CHIMPANZEES CELEBRATED

Alamogordo, NM (September 16, 2003) - Today marks the one-year anniversary
of the historic closure of The Coulston Foundation and the resulting
liberation of hundreds of chimpanzees and monkeys, In Defense of Animals
(IDA) and Animal Protection of New Mexico (APNM) announced today.

After an eight-year campaign spearheaded by IDA that involved unprecedented
regulatory action, Congressional scrutiny, suspension of federal funds,
international media attention and a hemorrhaging of the lab's money and
customers, Coulston was forced to donate its 266 chimpanzees and 61 monkeys
to the Center for Captive Chimpanzee Care, a state-of-the-art sanctuary
based in Florida.  This was the first time in history that an animal
protection campaign had forced the closure of an entire research lab.

Since the Center took over care of the primates on September 16, 2002, the
progress at the former research lab has been extraordinary.  Significant
changes have been made to what sanctuary Director Dr. Carole Noon has
called the ex-Coulston "dungeon," including the installation of skylights
as well as a perimeter fence that enables the chimpanzees to go outside
when they choose.  Dr. Noon has hired dozens of new staff members dedicated
solely to what is best for the chimpanzees, who now receive fresh fruits
and vegetables daily, as well as blankets for nesting and toys.

"We cannot thank the Center enough for the remarkable changes they continue
to make for the chimpanzees and monkeys," said IDA Research Director Eric
Kleiman.  "When we started our campaign in 1994, we dared not dream of such
a wonderful outcome."  Kleiman also offered special thanks for the
"incredible generosity" of the Arcus Foundation, which enabled the Center
to take over the ex-Coulston lab with a multi-million dollar grant and
continues to match donations to the Center dollar for dollar.

Additional financial assistance was provided by IDA and the New England
Anti-Vivisection Society.  APNM worked closely with IDA for years on the
campaign, and its volunteers help at the Center.  Other groups such as the
Animal Welfare Institute and Doris Day Animal League also provided key
support.

"Although today we celebrate the liberation of hundreds of chimpanzees, we
are sobered by the fact that over 1,200 remain incarcerated at other labs,"
continued Kleiman.  Many of the experiments on chimpanzees are funded by
the National Institutes of Health, which was forced to suspend funding to
Coulston after IDA exposed the agency's repeated lies to Congress and the
public as well as its multiple violations of federal law.  Congress is
currently investigating the NIH's actions regarding Coulston.  "Our
campaign against government-funded chimpanzee research has only just
begun," said Kleiman.

APNM Executive Director Lisa Jennings concluded, "The chimpanzees in
Alamogordo should serve as a constant reminder that there are others just
like them, still imprisoned in other government-sponsored dungeons around
the country.  They also must be freed."

The Center has received toys, blankets and other items from across the U.S.
 For information on how to donate money or items to the Center, please see
http://www.savethechimps.org

IDA is an international animal advocacy and rescue organization based in
Mill Valley, CA.  APNM is a statewide animal protection organization based
in Albuquerque.

   # # #