NPR: A working group put together by the National Institutes of
Health says most of its chimps, currently living in research
facilities, should be retired. The group’s report says the
retired chimps should be sent to a sanctuary, a non-laboratory
setting where chimps can lead more natural lives. The group
concludes only a small population of about 50 chimps need to be
retained for any future research needs, with the animals living
in social groups of at least seven. Those retained for research
purposes should also have at least 1,000 square feet of living
space, year-round access to the outdoors, as well as the ability
to forage for food and build nests. The group also says any
proposed research should go through a review committee that
includes members of the public. Photo: A chimp is sedated to
draw blood in efforts to find a cure for Hepatitis C, a
potentially deadly virus, at Texas Biomedical Research Institute
in San Antonio Texas. (NBC News)