This week's SECOND New York Times quote

Well, I suppose this qualified as a "very good week", seeing as there have been great strides made in terms of chimpanzee welfare, and as a result, I was quoted in the New York Times again! This makes twice in one week - and, strangely, on two separate topics.

On Wednesday, November 18, it was announced that the National Institutes of Health would no longer pursue keeping a reserve group of 50 chimpanzees for future biomedical research. All federally owned chimpanzees, are now destined for sanctuary retirement. This is just one more step in freeing chimpanzees from the obligations and shackles our culture assigned to them in the past decades.

The New York Times published "National Institutes of Health to End the Use of Chimpanzees for Research" on November 20th:

" 'We absolutely look forward to welcoming these 50 chimps to our sanctuaries to join with their lab chimp friends,' said Erika Fleury, program manager of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance, which runs Chimp Haven and seven other primate sanctuaries in the United States and Canada that together care for more than 270 chimpanzees."

Although they got some facts wrong - NAPSA does not run Chimp Haven (they are members) and we care for close to 270 chimpanzees at our member sanctuaries - the article was very informative and included quotes from other coworkers of mine. 

This year has been just wonderful for the advancement of primates rights and welfare. If I seem overly happy in this most recent article, it's because I am. Our world is starting to treat these very deserving animals with consideration for their interests. 

A few years ago, writing my book, I knew the world of primate welfare was on the verge of big shifts... but I didn't realize how soon it would all be happening.

Quoted in New York Times

My work as the Program Manager of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA) has given me some wonderful opportunities and experiences in the eleven months since I was hired. Today was once again one of those days when I got the thrill of seeing my name printed in connection to current events in the primatology and animal welfare worlds.

The story "Plan to Export Chimps Tests Law to Protect Species" made front page news in the New York Times.

On page A26 of this Sunday edition, the full article went on to explore the issues raised by the announcement that Yerkes National Primate Research Center planned to donate eight chimpanzees to an unaccredited and inexperienced wildlife park in the UK. 

My contribution comes here: "Five American sanctuaries are willing to take the Yerkes chimps, according to Erika Fleury, the program manager of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance. Some may require financial support for chimps that they take from the institute that retires them; Ms. Fleury said each sanctuary sets its own conditions."

The article also involves quotes and information from Kathleen Meyer, the lawyer NEAVS has hired to represent a group of concerned experts (including many from NAPSA member sanctuaries), and primatologist Richard Wrangham. 

I am once again pleased to be featured in such a well-known and respected publication, but am happiest that I can use my skills to help improve the lives of nonhuman primates.