News from Primarily Primates
Chimpanzees, Awash in Watermelons!
The hoots and expressions of delight continued for half an hour. Champ, Tina, Carmen (who’s now in her 50s), Buffy, April and Uriah wobbled around with their 20 lb. watermelons, smashed them open, or dribbled them like basketballs for the full length of the outdoor living area.
It was a festive way to bring the chimpanzees into our celebration of this week’s official merger between Friends of Animals and the Texas-based sanctuary Primarily Primates. A truck brought the 80 watermelons - plenty to go around for 65 chimpanzees. The hours-long watermelon party was, we can reveal, a smashing success. Baby Grace jumped up and down on one to crack it open. Wish all of our readers could have seen her little feet fly!
What’s New at Primarily Primates
Updates from Priscilla Feral and Stephen Rene Tello,
Veterinary Updates
Primarily Primates is virtually unique in the sanctuary world: We have an outstanding veterinarian, Valerie Kirk, right on site to provide immediate care for the animals. Many of our sanctuary residents are elderly, and a large number come from a medical research and testing background. Dr. Kirk is ever alert for subtle signs that an animal may be developing health issues, while keeping up a full workload of routine exams, vasectomies, and sometimes major surgery. Recently Dr. Kirk vasectomized more than a dozen tamarins. They were part of a group of 130 tamarins and marmosets, all placed at Primarily Primates by a university researcher who used them in a colon cancer study before he lost funding.
Recent News
Primarily Primates Prevails in Federal Animal Custody Suit
Parties Who Took Texas Refuge to Court in Oregon Fail Federal Rules
March 25, 2008
Sanctuary to fight return of chimps to Texas
Texas group decries appeal as a waste of 'court's time and money.'
March 20, 2008
Chimps Returning To South Texas
February 15, 2008
Judge orders chimps brought back to S.A. (Primarily Primates)
Web Posted: 02/15/2008 11:25 PM CST