Chimps and monkeys in Louisiana research lab: Tonight on ABC's Nightline

TiVo alert: tonight's episode of Nightline may be one animal lovers won't want to miss.  The program documents a nine-month undercover study conducted by the Humane Society of the United States in the New Iberia Research Center in Louisiana, which conducts tests for pharmaceutical companies and hepatitis studies on monkeys.  ABCNews.com has the details of what HSUS investigators found there:

The Humane Society investigator who gained access as an employee shot video of a lab worker striking a restrained monkey's teeth three times with a pipe. The investigator says the employee wanted the monkey to open its mouth.

"The man is sort of threatening him [the monkey] with this pole and smacking his teeth at the same time," the investigator said, describing the video.

Another piece of video shows a lab employee hitting an infant monkey in the head and swearing when the monkey bites at her finger.

Also interviewed for the program was Narriman Fakier, who coordinated research on 100 chimpanzees during her employment at the lab from fall 2002 until spring 2004, when she says she was told to quit or be fired following her repeated complaints about the animals' treatment.  Fakier has since filed a lawsuit against New Iberia; the lab says that she chose to quit and her suit was filed for "monetary gain."

From ABCNews.com:

The National Institutes of Health gave the New Iberia Research Center nearly $18 million in federal funds for chimpanzee research between 2000 and 2009. It also declined "Nightline's" repeated requests for an on-camera interview in favor of a statement that, in part, said, "Thanks to research involving primates, countless lives have been saved. For example, primates were critical to the development of vaccines for hepatitis A and B, now common pediatric immunizations. In addition, the chimpanzee is integral to current efforts to develop vaccines for hepatitis C, which globally affects more than 170 million people."

The HSUS says its investigation at New Iberia has resulted in the filing of a 108-page complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The group says New Iberia houses about 6,000 monkeys and more than 300 chimpanzees.

"These experiments come at an enormous short-term and long-term expense to taxpayers, and an even greater expense in suffering and anguish to chimpanzees and other primates forced to live in this pitiful laboratory," said HSUS president and CEO Wayne Pacelle.

Primatologist Jane Goodall echoed Pacelle's sentiments, saying, "In no lab I have visited have I seen so many chimpanzees exhibit such intense fear. The screaming I heard when chimpanzees were being forced to move toward the dreaded needle in their squeeze cages was, for me, absolutely horrifying."

Nightline airs at 11:35 p.m. tonight on ABC.

--Lindsay Barnett

Photo: HSUS via flickr

Comments

[Tracy Wyttenberg]

Re: Chimps and monkeys in Louisiana research lab; Praise to the person who had the courage to go undercover to bring attention to the horrible exhistance of these poor creatures. This lab clearly has no regard for the Federal Animal Welfare Act, the law designed require labs to ensure that procedures avoid or minimize distress or pain. The people running this lab should be removed and face criminal punishment. What the hell is the matter with these people?! We're supposed to be higher beings...

[liz]

Thank you for airing this horrific betrayal of what happens at this hell hole.

[Ahrend R. Walters-Believer Poet]

I live in Mississippi, and it has pierced my soul to see this kind of treatment happening to animals so close to home. After watching the Nightline episode, in regards to the Louisiana research lab, I couldn’t finish my dinner; I was horrified. This cruelty happening in Louisiana needs to be stopped, or better yet, the whole operation needs to be shut down if the lab can’t give animals the respect they deserve. How could someone treat animals so cruelly? Animals are a gift to all the universe.

[Darcy Van Dyke]

I beleive we finally have an administration that will actually do something about these horrific abuse cases again primates. Once and for all.

[Debra Harvey]

I found this story so disturbing that I am unable to get it out of my mind. Thank you for having the courage to bring this to the attention of people who care. Yes, the research is important, but that does not justify the way these animals are treated. No animal deserves this!!

[Lisa Turtle]

I suppose testing humans for these drugs would be more appropriate..

[Ernest Paul Silveria]

I've had all I can take of this kind of or any other kind of animal abuse. God has given us the responsibility to CARE for and LOVE the animal kingdom. Not to tower over them ruling with pain and fear ENOUGH!! Their lives are special and important to the mental health of MANKIND. They are on loan to us! Respect for them is not questionable. I would have no problem funding the cause of seeing to it that the men and women with knowledge or participation in this report at a lousiana research lab be sent to prison for animal cruility. Lets agree together America to no longer tolerate this kind of treatment to animals.

[Cheryl]

The research facility stated, "Thanks to (our) research .. countless lives have been saved...development of vaccines...current efforts to develop vaccines ".

What is implied is .... But, but, we HELPED so many people .... so many lives were saved, surely you can excuse us for THIS, right?

So this, I guess excuses them for the inhumane treatment of these primates? Certainly not.

[karl liljegren]

the persons in the video who were seen mistreating the animals should be brought up on charges and prosecuted...did this facility even ask if we wanted these so called advancements while animals are tortured....let the researchers test the drugs on themselves......shut them down now.........

[Amberlie]

That is very sad it makes me cry. I think the should stop animal testing once in for all.

[jillda29]

I'm sickened by the video of these helpless animals being tormented!..After having aired this hell pit to the public,.why aren't we as a people going over there..picketing..rioting..etc..IM READY TO GO!! I HAVE ALOT OF ANIMAL LOVING FRIENDS WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE THE RIDE THERE NOW!!! WE STAND IN FRONT OF OTHER BUILDINGS WITH SIGNS AND CHANTING FOR A CAUSE...WHY NOT NOW?? ANYONE INTERESTED IN BUILDING A NET WORK AND PROTESTING THIS HORROR,,E MAIL ME AT JILL_TULABA@YAHOO.COM ..

[Patricia S]

Does anyone know if anything has been done to stop this kind of abuse.

Obviously trying to shut down the institute will probably not happened but some kind of STANDARDIZATION or random checks should be done to insure this does not occur.

What i want to know is why there has not been any animal cruelty charges laid against these workers.... if this was a dog someone would have been arrested. Or at lest the animal would have been removed from that persons care.

Personally I would love to get involved in making sure this type of cruelty does not occur. These animals should be looked at with the highest level of respect and care.... THEY ARE SAVING HUMAN LIVES!!!!

The company mentions all the good that has come out of their research.. so doesn't that merit some gratitude towards these animals!!!

If anyone knows how I can get involved with this case please post the info here...

[Suzanne]

I am not condoning these horrific acts to animals, but it seems like those that are quick to complain are the same ones that would kill a human in utero and suction out up to a 9 month old HUMAN fetus' body parts and call it 'CHOICE'. I think we need to re-consider our actions on a multitude of levels.