Two recent events have generated a great deal of media attention on Chimpanzees. First; the death of “Cheetah” a chimpanzee that was reportedly the non-human primate costar of Johnny Weissmuller’s in the 1930’s Tarzan movies. Second; the restrictions the federal government has placed on chimpanzees in biomedical research.
In all the animal kingdom there is no other species that more closely resembles humans than chimpanzees. Time Science Magazine reported that our genetic makeup is 98-99% identical to that of chimpanzees1. In addition to these genetic similarities, there are many physiologic connections between humans and chimpanzees that have led to their use in biomedical research. For example, Chimpanzees were very important in the development of a human hepatitis B vaccine3.
In 1997 there were about 1,500 US biomedical chimpanzees in the United States3. The discussion over whether to use chimpanzees in research has been hotly debated for years and it is very difficult to find unbiased opinions on the subject.
One of the most divisive issues surrounding chimpanzees is their use in HIV AIDs research. In the early 1980’s chimps were used in HIV AIDS research assuming that their obvious similarities to humans would lead to a wealth of information on the deadly viral disease. Researchers were disappointed however when the subjects didn’t quickly come down with AIDs, as anticipated. For a while it appeared that the animals were resistant to the infection and the value of their use had been misjudged. In 1997 however some of the infected subjects contracted AIDs and their value in HIV research is being reevaluated2.
Part of the challenge with chimpanzee research is what to do with these animals after they are no longer needed for studies. When a police dog is retired from active duty he or she can be rehomed, even if under certain restrictions4. If a horse is no longer needed for a research project it can quite literally be turned out to pasture. Chimpanzees however pose greater challenges than do these domestic animals species.
One of these challenges is their life expectancy. Even though “Cheetah” was reported to be 80 years old, chimpanzee life spans in captivity average about 45 years of age. Since euthanasia is controversial for retired chimpanzees3, long term care must be a consideration for any chimpanzee entered into research, or any other use such as pets or the entertainment industry. “Cheetah” spent his golden years at sanctuary in Florida. These sanctuaries are good choice for many chimps, but may not be a viable option for animals infected with viruses such as HIV, in which case euthanasia should still be considered as an alternative.
Another obstacle currently receiving more attention is environmental enrichment for Chimpanzees in research facilities. Sadly enough, this is an area that has been overlooked for too long, with some chimps in windowless rooms with very little if anything to interact with. Simply adding windows and toys are modest embellishments that will help to improve their wellbeing.
I support judicious use of chimpanzees in biomedical research, but I also believe that they have been and will continue to be important research subjects. There is an ongoing need for these magnificent creatures in biomedical research, especially in light of so many emerging and reemerging diseases such as SARS and Ebola Virus that currently pose significant threats to global health.
1. What Makes us Different? By Michael D. Lemonick, Sunday, Oct. 01, 2006
2. Chimpanzees in Research: Strategies for Their Ethical Care, Management, and Use (Free Executive Summary) National Academies Press
3. http://www.k9gta.com/Retired-Police-Dog-for-Sale.html
4. Twists and Turns in Chimp AIDS Research By David Berreby February 04, 1997 in New York Times Science