March 29, 2024
Letter

Justice for chimps

With growing public support, and mounting scientific evidence, a bill was introduced in Congress this past April calling for an end to invasive and biomedical research and testing on chimpanzees and their release to permanent sanctuaries. It was spearheaded by the Humane Society of the United States and the New England Anti-Vivisection Society’s Project R&R, Release and Restitution for chimpanzees in U.S. laboratories.

Chimpanzees are our closest relatives, sharing 98.8 percent of our DNA. They have a monthly reproductive cycle, their pregnancies are nine months long, and they give birth to one offspring or twins. They show affection by hugging, and they weep when they are sad or hurt.

With recent failures in clinical trials, many question the ethical and scientific basis for using chimpanzees in study of human diseases. Many have languished in lab cages for up to 40 to 50 years, suffering painful experiments. It is time for them to experience kindness and justice. Please contact our Congressional delegation and ask them to sign on to this legislation. Please also sign the online petition at releasechimps.org.

Carolyn McKinnon

Bangor


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