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Project R&R’s premiere educational event, In Their Own Words, is making its Midwest stop on March 22nd at the Chicago Cultural Center - in the heart of downtown Chicago.

In Their Own Words
Stories of Chimpanzees
From Research to Sanctuary

Thursday, March 22, 2007
Doors open at 7:30 pm

Chicago Cultural Center
Claudia Cassidy Theater
78 E. Washington Street
Chicago, IL 60602

Jeannie and Gloria/Fauna Foundation

Project R&R/NEAVS provides critical aid for Primarily Primates, Inc

Primarily Primates, Inc. (PPI), a not-for-profit sanctuary in San Antonio Texas, was put into receivership as the result of an on-going attorney general investigation. The investigation was spurred by mounting concerns for the safety and well-being of PPI’s residents.

The housing of chimpanzees and other animals from research at PPI was in critical need of repair, cleaning and improvements. The social and physical needs of many chimpanzees and monkeys needed to be addressed and a plan for enrichment had to be put in place.

From the beginning of this controversy, Project R&R was in full gear to help as the well-being of so many animals was at stake. PPI is home to 75 chimpanzees and nearly 450 other primates, most of whom were rescued from research.

In addition to providing on-going consultation, Project R&R/NEAVS provided critically needed funding. The NEAVS funding is helping with repairing and renovating existing enclosures to make them safer and easier to maintain; building new tunnels between enclosures to allow chimpanzees to be appropriately transferred to allow for better group dynamics as well as necessary access for on-going maintenance. Efforts to make night areas more suitable and day areas safer and more enjoyable as well as basic husbandry issues are being addressed.

Project R&R/NEAVS also provided hundreds of soft fleece blankets which proved critical during this last week’s unusual cold snap that hit the area.

Lee Theisen-Watt, the court appointed receiver of the embattled sanctuary, commented:

We are grateful to…the New England Anti-Vivisection Society and Project R&R: Release and Restitution for Chimpanzees in U.S. Labs, who [have] given the chimps and all of the beings at Primarily Primates the tremendous gift of hope, restoration to dignity, health and happiness….(see below for full comments)

Project R&R’s Executive Director Dr. Theodora Capaldo noted that: “We are grateful to be part of a team of individuals and organizations… that see in this situation only one thing: the well-being of the animals who for years have called PPI home. We commend everyone who has rolled up their sleeves and worked day and night to improve the quality of life for the chimpanzees and other animals at PPI. We will continue to do whatever we can toward this noble and necessary goal.”

Click here to view a video of the chimpanzees excited to use their new tunnels!

Thank you to all who have contributed to our campaign to help chimpanzees. To learn how you can help contribute, click here.

Full message from Ms. Lee Theisen-Watt

December, 2006 - The incredible generosity keeps coming!

Last night we received confirmation on an urgent grant request, with this generous grant request we are now able to move on an innovative design to connect chimp enclosures and to connect the monkey enclosures so we may access them for cleaning and repairs.

We are grateful to Theodora Capaldo, Ed.D., President, New England Anti-Vivisection Society. “Project R&R: Release and Restitution for Chimpanzees in U.S.”, who has given the chimps and all of the beings at Primarily Primates the tremendous gift of hope, restoration to dignity, health and happiness.

Today we began work on the most critical of chimp enclosures. Our contractor, Jim Wilson, in his resourcefulness has discovered materials already on grounds which will be recycled and used for this project.

-Lee Theisen-Watt, Primarily Primates, Inc., Receiver

Heartbreaking and sobering news brought sadness but renewed commitment to Project R&R’s Elder Campaign. Gwen, believed to have been the oldest chimpanzee held in a U.S. laboratory, died in November, 2006; she was 54 years old when she was finally released.

Tragically, she died just four short weeks after being released from New Iberia Research Center and placed at Chimp Haven the week of October 16. Little was known about Gwen except her age, ID number – Ch 428 – and the fact that most if not all of her life was spent in a laboratory.

Project R&R is working to contact legislators on behalf of the remaining Elders now held in U.S. labs. In the weeks ahead efforts to outreach to the public for their support for our campaign to release all the Elders will be fortified.

Project R&R is committed to working for the Elders’ immediate release into permanent retirement, so that these individuals who have spent most or all of their lives in laboratories can enjoy the relative freedoms sanctuaries can provide – including blankets, fresh air, sunshine, enrichment and peace – for whatever time they have left.

The American public supports these efforts with 71% agreeing that chimpanzees who have been in research for 10 or more years should be released. Our focus, at this time, on the Elders is a triaged rescue effort. Their needs are immediate and urgent, and their time limited.

Remembering Gwen and how she was offered too little, too late, reminds us that the time is now…for not only the rest of the Elders, but for all chimpanzees in all U.S. labs.