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County plans to honor monkeys
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Also by Cara Harshman:
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by Cara Harshman
Friday, March 7, 2008
Dane County residents and animal activists are invited to gather this weekend in remembrance of monkeys, a Wisconsin-based animal rights group announced this week.
Alliance for Animals, a nonprofit animal rights organization, is marking the 10-year anniversary of the date the University of Wisconsin Primate Center sent about 150 monkeys to Tulane University, where the monkeys were victims of fatal experiments.
The group will gather Saturday at the Henry Vilas Zoo on the site where the monkey house — which housed monkeys UW owned and cared for — used to be.
Rick Bogle, an Alliance for Animals activist, said the point of the gathering was to remind Dane County residents about how UW allegedly broke promises to not perform harmful experiments on monkeys born at the zoo.
“We will remember these basically 350 monkeys that were killed in violation of three written agreements between the Primate Center and Dane County,” Bogle said. “We want to call attention to the fact that this is something the university did and was never held accountable for.”
In addition to the 150 sent to Tulane University, Boglee said a whistle blower found documents showing that since 1989 at least 201 monkeys from UW Primate Center 201 “had been sold to labs around the country and used in experiments at the UW primate center that resulted in their suffering and deaths, while written promises that they would be safe were in effect.”
According to Bogle, Primate Center directors and members signed three different letters in 1989, 1990 and 1995, stating the center would not perform harmful experiments on the monkeys unless a monkey had unique genetic traits.
UW Primate Center director Joe Kemnitz said UW never entered into an agreement like that because it would not make sense.
“It’s a biomedical research facility,” Kemnitz said. “We are using taxpayers’ money to research on animals to improve human health.”
Kemnitz said the monkeys living at Vilas Zoo provided entertainment for Dane County residents and were mostly used in experiments observing their social structure.
“In the 1990s we made a decision to abandon the zoo facility. … People felt they had learned as much from those monkeys as they could,” Kemnitz said.
UW then made the decision, Kemnitz said, to transfer the approximately 150 Rhesus monkeys previously housed in Vilas Zoo to the Tulane University Primate Center in New Orleans, La.
According to a statement from Alliance for Animals, when the monkeys arrived at Tulane they “endured 90 days of solitary confinement; … their family groups were destroyed. Some were placed into breeding situations, some died, and others were experimented on and then killed.”
Kemnitz said no invasive experiments were performed on the monkeys at Tulane where afterward they would have to be put to sleep. They underwent a standard quarantine period to ensure a monkey did not transfer any diseases to another monkey from the large group, he added.
“I would say that the monkeys were not mistreated when they went to Tulane. … They were doing very well for the first few years at least,” Kemnitz said, adding the monkeys were used for breeding purposes.
Once UW removed all of its monkeys from the Vilas Zoo, the monkey house was demolished.
“It’s almost if the university does not want the public to remember it at all,” Bogle said.
The public is invited to gather for the monkeys at Henry Vilas Zoo inside Gate 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Anonymous (March 7, 2008 @ 8:35am):
Wow, what a misleading title. The county is not honoring anything, Alliance for Animals is. Nice editorial work.
Anonymous (March 7, 2008 @ 11:39am):
Protect the monkeys!
Use PETA people for experiments instead.
Anonymous (March 7, 2008 @ 6:01pm):
"UW Primate Center director Joe Kemnitz said UW never entered into an agreement like that..."
If accurately quoted, Joe Kemnitz is a liar.
--------------------------------------
WISCONSIN REGIONAL PRIMATE RESEARCH CENTER
June 15, 1989
Dr. David Hall
Director, Vilas Park Zoo
702 S. Randall Ave.
Madison, WI 53715
Dear Dr. Hall:
I want to inform you of the Primate Center's policy regarding our monkeys that reside at the Vilas Park Zoo in a building we refer to as the "WRPRC Vilas Park Zoo Facility". This building was constructed with funds provided by the federal government to the Primate Center. Thus, despite its somewhat ambiguous designation, the facility is owned and operated by us and, accordingly, the University of Wisconsin.
More than a few of the monkeys housed at this facility have lived their entire lives there, and animals are removed from their natal groups only to prevent overcrowding. The groups have been established for the principal purpose of studying social organization and social dynamics in stable primate societies. Accordingly, on those infrequent occasions when animals are removed from a group, the removal is guided by procedures aimed at ensuring the least disruption of the group and at preserving social stability.
The research performed on troops housed at the zoo is purely observational in nature. As a matter of policy, no invasive physiological studies are carried out on these animals. In addition, the Center's policy regarding animals removed from these established groups ensures that they will not be used in studies at our facility involving invasive experimental procedures. Such animals will be assigned to the Center's non-experimental breeding colony, where they are exempt from experimental use.
This policy on the uses of monkeys at the WRPRC Vilas Park Zoo facility has the endorsement of my administrative council as well as the staff veterinarians and animal care supervisors responsible for the care and humane use of all Center animals. As evidence of this, their signatures are also affixed.
Let me take this opportunity to point out that the Center has long taken a leadership role in the humane treatment of research animals. Our housing meets or exceeds all applicable standards. Our 12-person animal care staff has an average length of nearly 20 years of dedicated service to the Center and its animals. In addition, our chief veterinarian is one of just a handful of veterinarians in the state to be certified as a Diplomat of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, and our assistant veterinarian has developed a highly regarded program of pairing caged monkeys to enhance their psychological well-being.
Yours Truly,
[signed]
Robert W. Goy, Director
Administrative Council
[signed]
William E. Bridson
Associate Director
[signed]
Robert K. Watson,
Assistant Director
Animal Care Unit
[signed]
Wallace D. House
Chief Veterinarian
[signed]
Viktor Reinhardt
Assistant Veterinarian
[signed]
Stephen G. Eisele
Breeding Supervisor
[signed]
Milford Urben
Vials Park Zoo Facility Supervisor
-----------------------------
WISCONSIN REGIONAL PRIMATE RESEARCH CENTER
University of Wisconsin, 1223 Capitol Court / Madison, Wisconsin
53715-1299 FAX (608) 243-4031
April 18, 1990
Dr. David Hall, Director
Vilas Park Zoo
702 S. Randall Avenue
Madison, WI 53715
Dear Dr. Hall:
I confirm that the existing and future policies of the Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center are that any animals bred at the zoo are used in non-interventive behavioral research or for breeding purposes only.
We are very pleased to have the zoo facility and will do all in our power to make it an interesting display for the public as well as a significant Center for behavioral studies. We are addressing new ways in which the condition of the animals can be improved. In particular, with regard to the hair loss seen during the late winter months.
In addition, we are currently establishing field research in the conservation biology of stump-tail macaques. We hope to provide some illustrated posters of our studies concerning this endangered species in the wild. The posters will show how studies in captivity strengthen conservation efforts in the wild. I will of course consult with you in the preparation of these posters, which I hope would also be of interest to your Commission and to the public.
My predecessor, Dr. Goy wrote to you last year on June 15 and on July 17. Our policies were spelled out in detail in those letters and these policies will remain in place. In particular, Dr. Goy's letter of June 15 addresses this topic. You are aware that the Center, which is one of seven federally-funded Primate Research Centers in the USA, carries out basic research in biomedical and behavioral sciences relevant to both human and animal health and conservation.
With best wishes.
Sincerely yours,
[signed]
John Hearn
------------------
[From a fax:]
February 1, 1995
Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center
John P. Hearn, Director
Dr. David Hall, Director
Henry Vilas Park Zoo
Henry Vilas Zoo/WRPRC Collaboration
Dear David:
It was a pleasure to review our partnership recently. It was doubly a pleasure to be able to report that the extensive renovations of our Vilas facility now provides year round heating and lighting for the animals. This is overcoming the earlier problems of coat condition that led to misunderstandings by some visitors. We look forward to continuing improvements and we will pursue all possible funding sources to put some trees nearby to soften the rather stark appearance of the building. We will also proceed to obtain a storage shed for the storage of the roof panels, and I will review this plan with you as soon as we have it ready for discussion.
We also reviewed our agreement (since 1989) on the study of animals at Vilas and when they return to the Center. These animals are studied in non-invasive research or assigned to our breeding colony. Investigative procedures include those, with no damage or consequence to the animal required for veterinary health or routine procedures used in human medicine. These procedures cause no physical or sensory deficit and are all fully in compliance and previously approved through the required regulatory steps of the university and Federal employees. In cases where animals are no longer suitable for breeding, they are either assigned to our aged rhesus colony, again for non-invasive work, or euthanized humanely. In cases where animals do not meet criteria for genetic health or inbreeding, similar procedures apply. In cases where exceptional circumstances require a different use, for example unique genetic characteristics requiring more detailed investigation for human and animal health, we will review the proposal in advance with you.
The work at our Vilas facility is proving important for the conservation biology research that the Center is carrying out in Thailand, Brazil, Colombia, and elsewhere. The ability to test non-invasive genetic or endocrine monitoring systems, as well as the studies of social organization and the behavior of large primate groups, is an important role of the Vilas Lab and applies to the parallel field research. We will . . . [text undecipherable] . . . to explain and display this dimension of our research to the public through the information . . .[text undecipherable] . . . Vilas.
Thank you for your help in these endeavors. I enclose a one page summary of the Centers activities, for your information. As you know, I am available to discuss these matters or to present our work to your Commission or to the Society (of which I am a member) at any time.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
[signed]
John Hearn
-------------------------------
Inventory of Monkeys Used by the Primate Center From the Center's Henry Vilas Zoo Colony
Statement by Graduate School Dean Virginia S. Hinshaw
(8/13/97)
An inventory conducted August 11-12, 1997 by officials from the Wisconsin Regional Primate Center indicates that Primate Center monkeys housed in the UW facility at Henry Vilas Park Zoo were used in invasive research projects. This represents a serious breach of the 1989 local agreement between directors of the center and the zoo.
According to the June 19, 1989 agreement, no invasive studies were to be performed on animals housed at the zoo. While federal regulations for research were strictly followed by the center, the assignment of monkeys from the Vilas facility to some research projects did not adhere to that agreement.
I want to reiterate my instructions to the center's leadership on Monday, Aug. 11, that no monkeys housed in the Vilas facility will be assigned to invasive research projects. No such assignments have been made in 1997, and none will be made in the future. ...
-------------------------------
If accurately quoted, Joe Kemnitz is a liar.
Anonymous (March 8, 2008 @ 1:05pm):
as quickly as we have forgotten about these innocent victims, we have also forgotten how closely related we are to them in almost every sense.
its sad so many people let these lies and cover-ups continue without putting up a fight. nice job alliance and rick! one day justice and equality will be provided for all primates.
Anonymous (March 8, 2008 @ 9:34pm):
"one day justice and equality will be provided for all primates."
Even humans?
Anonymous (March 9, 2008 @ 3:53pm):
I am shocked at the cover-up taking place here! The communications that recently have been posted in response to this story make the convincing and BLATANT case that Joe Kemnitz is indeed lying -- why?! And why isn't he and the UW being held accountable?
I may not have lived here 10 years ago, but I now know what happened. And I will not forget.
Anonymous (March 9, 2008 @ 4:14pm):
Should anyone be surprised that Kemnitz lied? Who wants to own up to animal cruelty. It's a nationwide problem - animal laboratories all over the country continue to lie about their programs and even have the audacity to claim activists are violent. There is no question that this is a slick PR move to detract attention away from where the real violence happens - inside laboratories.
Anonymous (March 10, 2008 @ 7:33am):
"Statement by Graduate School Dean Virginia S. Hinshaw (8/13/97):
An inventory conducted August 11-12, 1997 by officials from the Wisconsin Regional Primate Center indicates that Primate Center monkeys housed in the UW facility at Henry Vilas Park Zoo were used in invasive research projects. This represents a serious breach of the 1989 local agreement between directors of the center and the zoo."
"Joe Kemnitz said UW never entered into an agreement like that..."
... and the Holocaust never happened either. Unbelievable. Liar, liar, pants on fire.
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