Presenting at Joint Meeting of IPS and ASP

The joint meeting of the International Primatological Society (IPS) and the American Society of Primatologists (ASP) was held in Chicago, IL from August 21-27th. It was predicted to be the largest primatological gathering in the last 20 years. 

On behalf of NAPSA, I spoke twice at this event.  

As part of "Teaching Primatology in the 21st Century: Bringing Primates to the Students When You Can't Take Students to the Primates," a workshop on primatology education,  I presented "Sanctuary and Student Synergy: Primatology through Retired Primates." My talk focused on how students and teachers (of all grade levels) can work with sanctuaries to learn about primates and the issues affecting their welfare.

I also presented during one of the Poster Sessions. My poster, "Collaboration for Sustainability: Successful Retirement of Captive Primates," was geared to towards the research-heavy ASP crowd. Increasingly, laboratories are considering sanctuary retirement of their primates, so it is important that NAPSA educate the non-sanctuary community about what is needed for primate retirements. Primate retirement is a complex process that must be financially feasible and practical for all parties involved.

My poster was featured later in the week on a round-table discussion of the ethics of primate retirement, although I was not able to attend that segment.

My time in Chicago flew by, but it was wonderful to meet up with coworkers and other experts in the field!

One of NEAVS's "just a bunch of people"

I am honored to be included in a video, "Just a Bunch of People," highlighting some of the primate experts opposed to the international transfer of chimpanzees from a Georgia research laboratory to the UK.

The video, produced by the New England Anti-Vivisection Society (NEAVS), lists such primatology all-starts like Richard Wrangham, Jennifer Feuerstein, Douglas Cress, Tetsuro Matsuzawa…and me!

It is truly, truly an honor to be in such esteemed company. Thank you, NEAVS!

Quoted in National Geographic

On the heels of my May 31 interview on CNN, I was part of an article published in National Geographic on a topic completely separate from Harambe the gorilla's untimely demise.

As part of my work with the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance, I submitted an affidavit that the organization would be happy to take in eight chimpanzees that were destined to be transported overseas from a research laboratory in Georgia to an unaccredited zoo in the United Kingdom. This has, understandably, made news and National Geographic published an article, "Controversial Plan Would Send Lab Chimps to Unaccredited Zoo," exploring why so many primate experts are against the transfer.

Fortunately, the completely unnecessary and avoidable transfer of the chimpanzees has been delayed until at least September, so that the court can gather more information on the case. I am happy to be a part of this and hope that we will be successful in stopping this move.