Media coverage of chimpanzee rescue

The collaborative fundraiser / rescue effort that I am leading celebrated a major victory recently, when 6 of the 32 remaining chimpanzees were successfully rehired to accredited sanctuary Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest in Washington.

So much effort went into the day, from the veterinarians ensuring the chimps' health and safety to the transport crew who drove in the trailer (all the way from Georgia!), to the caregivers who had to coax the chimps into their transport cages and then say goodbye, to the fundraising crew who helped raise the dollars to make it all happen... so when we waved the trailer off, loaded up with 6 chimps, there were many relieved tears.

Media coverage continues to roll in, as the story was picked up in markets all up and down the west coast. Highlights of the coverage include:

On television -

CBS Los Angeles: 6 Wildlife Waystation Chimpanzees Taken To New Home In Washington State

Fox26 KMPH: Six Rescued Chimpanzees Begin their Journey to Their New Forever Home

In print -

 Los Angeles Daily News: ‘Lucky 6’ Chimps on the Move: Forgotten Wildlife Waystation Animals are on Their Way to Sanctuary

On radio -

KNX-AM (link coming soon!)

Also, check out this great video California Department of Fish & Wildlife put together!

National media coverage of tragic Buck the chimp

 Buck was a chimpanzee who was kept as a "pet" in a home in Oregon for the last 17 years. His owner had always refused all efforts to place Buck at an accredited chimpanzee sanctuary. There was a consistent fear among experts that Buck, like other privately owned chimps, would one day react aggressively - with tragic consequences. Sure enough, last Sunday he did, attacking the daughter of his owner until police shot him dead.

After having known about Buck for years, coming away frustrated when his owner would refuse sanctuary assistance, it was very, very upsetting to see this outcome. Even though it was rather expected, it also felt avoidable. If only someone had been able to convince his owner to let him live the sanctuary life. If only he had lived a more natural life in which natural aggression wouldn't cause his death. If only Buck hadn't been bred and sold as a "pet" in the first place. If only...

Chimp attacks always bring media attention, and this one was no different. I first spoke with The Oregonian about Buck, and the story (and my quotes) were then picked up all over the nation and globe, appearing in sites like Newsweek, MSN, Yahoo, Fox News, and then sites in other countries like The Independent in the UK, and others in India, Brazil, Indonesia, and more.  

I also did a longer interview with Newsweek for a future piece to come out about the exotic pet trade,  publication date TBD.