[FEL-L] Primarily Primates in trouble...

[Laura Morin]

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Fight Over Chimps Enters New Chapter
By ELIZABETH WHITE (Associated Press Writer)
>From Associated Press
October 18, 2006 9:46 PM EDT 
SAN ANTONIO - The court-appointed caregiver entrusted with Primarily
Primates, a sanctuary holding an estimated 800 monkeys, chimps, jungle cats
and other animals, says that everywhere she turns, another horror pops out:

Guinea pigs inbreeding in a crowded cage. A lion in an enclosure with no
top and an easy escape route via a tree. A ditch full of stagnant animal
waste. A chimp named Darrell housed alone in a dark, hot enclosure teeming
with flies.

Lee Theisen-Watt is still in the middle of taking an inventory of the
28-year-old facility after being named its "temporary receiver" by a court
last week when the state attorney general's office stepped in, seizing the
facility without notice under a temporary restraining order. The sanctuary
already was the target of a lawsuit this year that ultimately sought to
relocate some former Ohio State University research chimps because of
concerns about their welfare.

"The enormity of the problem is very hard to get your mind wrapped around,"
said Theisen-Watt, who has been working with animals for two decades and
once consulted for Primarily Primates before breaking ties with it over the
care provided there. "Attila the Hun would take over and it would be under
better management."

The lawsuit, thrown out by a judge last month, related to seven chimps and
two monkeys transferred to Primarily Primates from Ohio State earlier this
year in a more than $300,000 contract. Originally nine chimps and three
monkeys were moved, but a monkey escaped on the day of arrival and two
chimps, Kermit and Bobby, died within two months of coming to the 75-acre
compound.

An emergency hearing is scheduled for Thursday in Austin to determine
whether Theisen-Watt can start relocating what she considers the most
gravely ill animals. She will also request permission to euthanize in the
most extreme cases if a veterinarian deems it is the right course.

Stephen Tello, interim executive director Primarily Primates and a trustee,
said he is appalled.

"Their first decision is to start killing animals. I think that's
absolutely inhumane," Tello said, referring to People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals, which has been heavily involved in the case.

He said he believes PETA's "murder list" is far longer than two monkeys
Theisen-Watt said should probably be euthanized.

"I think it's a disgusting move on behalf of PETA and the attorney general
who are working under allegations; nothing has been proven," Tello said.

Leana Stormont, an attorney for PETA who has been on site at Primarily
Primates for several days, said euthanization decisions should be up to
veterinarians, not PETA.

"The notion that there is a murder list is just patently absurd and it's
clearly intended to draw attention away from the inexcusable animal
suffering that has occurred under PPI's watch," she said. PETA earlier this
year filed a complaint with the attorney general's office, she said.

Tom Kelley, a spokesman for the Texas attorney general, said his office got
involved after getting complaints about the facility and taking affidavits
from former employees.

He said the state's concerns are not only for the health of the animals,
but also for those people who could be hurt if any of them escaped, as well
as possible mismanagement of publicly donated funds.

Some cages are overcrowded, others have no climbing equipment and some have
only recently gotten soft bedding, Theisen-Watt said. She said some
primates were underweight and noted how voraciously they ate when offered a
handful of cereal.

Theisen-Watt said that since she arrived late last week, Sarah, an Ohio
State chimp who had reportedly lost a third of her body weight after
arriving at Primarily Primates, already is doing better.

"They're all getting attention. They know something's going on and they're
excited," she said.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.    
 



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Laura Morin
lmorin67 at earthlink.net
www.WildAboutCats.org
Exotic Feline Conservation-Education-Rescue